A collaboration process to produce a natural playscape

Abstract

The purpose was to determine emergent themes across three sources of information. Guiding Question: Did data sets define design themes? Data sets were: 1) children’s drawings, 2) university student drawings, and 3) writing. Children (ages 6-10 years; n=6) completed drawings of the playscape. University students (n=33) responded using the children’s drawings and a site visit. Data Set #1 and Data Set #2 were coded using three aspects of each drawing: 1) depiction, 2) activity, and 3) word association. Five categories were used to sort information in each aspect. These included 1) gross motor, 2) fine motor, 3) cognition, 4) sensory, or 5) multiple category. Data Set #3 was sorted using five skills categories for each aspect. Coders were trained to interpret drawings and word associations. Reliability required 100% agreement between two coders. Five emergent themes included 1) Visual, 2) Auditory, 3) Movement, 4) Semi-enclosed Spaces, and 5) Natural Elements.