A multi-method approach to studying activity setting participation: integrating standardized questionnaires,...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation research
• Disability studies
• Human participation research

Background:

• Understanding disabled youth's experiences in activity settings is crucial for effective interventions.
• Existing research methods may not fully capture the complexity of these experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of integrating standardized questionnaires, qualitative methods, and physiological measures.
• To explore the opportunities, challenges, and lessons learned from collecting data in a real-life setting.

Main Methods:

• Utilized newly developed quantitative measures: Measures of Environmental Qualities of Activity Settings (MEQAS) and Self-Experiences of Activity Settings (SEAS).
• Employed youth-friendly qualitative methods: photo-elicitation, observations, electronic, and face-to-face interviews.
• Integrated an innovative physiological data collection system (HEART system) for deeper insights.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the practical combination of diverse methods for studying activity setting participation experiences.
• Showcased how different data types informed each other, enabling rich interpretation.
• Identified practical lessons for the joint use and integration of these methods.

Conclusions:

• Combined methodologies offer significant promise for future research on disabled youth's participation experiences.
• This integrated approach provides a more profound understanding of participants' lived experiences.