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Updated: May 4, 2026
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Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
8.2K
Physical activity surveillance in parks using direct observation.
Phillip Ward1, Thomas L McKenzie2, Deborah Cohen3
1The Ohio State University, Department of Human Sciences; Room A256, 305 West 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210-1221.
Preventing Chronic Disease
|January 4, 2014
Summary
Systematic Observation of Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) is a reliable tool for public health surveillance. This observational instrument effectively measures physical activity across diverse locations and seasons.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Surveillance
- Physical Activity Measurement
- Observational Research Methods
Background:
- Effective public health surveillance requires instruments that are valid, reliable, and versatile across settings and seasons.
- Previous research has established the validity and reliability of the Systematic Observation of Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) for assessing park and user characteristics.
- This study aimed to further validate SOPARC as a surveillance instrument and contextualize its utility within existing literature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the utility of SOPARC as a public health surveillance instrument.
- To assess the reliability and applicability of SOPARC across diverse geographic locations and seasons.
- To provide context for SOPARC findings within the broader landscape of physical activity research.
Main Methods:
- Data were collected over three years using SOPARC in four distinct US cities: Philadelphia, PA; Columbus, OH; Chapel Hill/Durham, NC; and Albuquerque, NM.
- Observations were conducted during spring, summer, and autumn to capture seasonal variations.
- Observer reliability was assessed on 15% of all observations.
Main Results:
- A total of 35,990 park users were observed, with high overall observer reliability (94%).
- Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels showed minor variations across cities and seasons.
- Park visitation was significantly higher on weekends compared to weekdays, with lower rates observed in summer compared to spring.
Conclusions:
- SOPARC demonstrates high reliability and is suitable for data collection by various users across different geographic settings and seasons.
- The findings support SOPARC's potential as a valuable public health surveillance system for monitoring physical activity.
- SOPARC offers a robust method for understanding park usage patterns and physical activity behaviors in community settings.
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