Beth T. Bell

Planning to Save the Planet: Using an Online Intervention Based on Implementation Intentions to Change Adolescent Self-Reported Energy-Saving Behavior

Adolescents are an important population to target with energy-saving interventions: Not only are adolescents high consumers of energy, but they are also the adult consumers of the future. In the present study, an online energy-saving intervention was developed based on implementation intentions, a widely used psychological behavior change technique. A total of 180 adolescents, aged 13 to 15 years, were recruited using purposeful sampling and were allocated to either the intervention or control condition. A significant increase in adolescent’s self-reported energy-saving behavior was found among adolescents who had received the intervention, which was sustained at the 6-week follow-up. However, some adolescents were more affected by the intervention than others; adolescents who already actively engaged in energy saving (as identified by their readiness to change prior to the intervention) reported a significant increase in energy-saving behaviors as a consequence of participation in the intervention, whereas those who were not already saving energy did not.

Objectifying Fitness: A Content and Thematic Analysis of #Fitspiration Images on Social Media

Research suggests that exposure to #fitspiration content can result in increased body dissatisfaction. Employing a data-driven approach, the present study examines the nature of images and text contained within #fitspiration posts on social media. First, a content analysis of images labeled as #fitspiration on popular site Instagram (N = 1,000) was performed. People featured in 52% of images, of which nearly 90% of individuals were coded as having low body fat and 55% were coded as muscular. Individuals were typically presented in sexually objectified ways, which varied as a function of gender. Second, a thematic analysis of text from the same set of images (N = 400) was conducted to identify common themes and underlying meaning embedded within the messages. Six themes were developed: (a) Fit is sexy, (b) A “fit” physique requires commitment and self-regulation, (c) Your choices define you, (d) Pleasure and perseverance through pain, (e) Battle of the selves: You versus you, and (f) Here’s to us! A celebration of a community. In combination, the analyses demonstrate how text and images found in #fitspiration posts perpetuate pervading sociocultural appearance ideals for men and women, positioning exercise as means to achieving these ideals. Furthermore, #fitspiration sexually objectifies the fit body, with text and images encouraging self-objectification and the distancing of the self from internal bodily functions in physical activity settings. Future research should focus on how #fitspiration content influences individuals in relation to how they think and feel about their body and physical activity.

Behaviour change interventions: teenagers, technology and design

There is growing emphasis on teenagers to adopt healthy behaviours and sustainable lifestyles. Innovative interventions delivered through pervasive technology or the internet are increasingly viewed as effective ways to motivate and help people change their behaviour. However, delivering interventions to change teenagers attitude or behaviour via pervasive systems need to be designed specifically for the target population. When working with teenagers relevant, teen-centric and appropriate activities need to be used. The aim of this workshop is to discuss and develop interdisciplinary research in the design of technology for behaviour change interventions in the teenage population.

Teenagers talking about technologies: designing technology to reduce teen energy use

This paper describes the methodology through which a set of guidelines that inform the design and development of energy-use reduction technologies for teenagers were created. The presented research forms part of a wider project that aims to design, develop and evaluate mobile solutions to change teen attitudes and behavior to energy consumption. In order to understand how to approach the design of technologies that reduce teen electricity consumption, researchers engaged teenagers in a comprehensive user-centered evaluation of relevant existing prototypes. The evaluation feedback was used to generate a set of seven guidelines that will inform the design and development of future energy-reduction devices for teenagers as part of the final stages of this overall research project.

Working with Teenagers in HCI Research: A Reflection on Techniques Used in the Taking on the Teenagers Project

Engaging participants and choosing an appropriate technique in the research process are vitally important in developing successful products, devices and interventions. HCI researchers need to choose techniques that are suitable and appropriate for the user population being considered. In this chapter techniques used within HCI research activities with teenagers during the Taking on the Teenagers research project are considered, providing a brief case study example of each. The key features of each technique are then summarised, in order to allow comparison between techniques and assist both researchers and practitioners when selecting techniques. Second, the authors reflect critically upon their practical experiences working with teens and the lessons they have learned, in order to formulate nine guidelines that inform best practice when working with teenaged user populations.

Perspectives on HCI Research with Teenagers

Teen Computer Interaction is concerned with the design, evaluation and implementation of technologies for teenagers and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them. It aims to give special consideration to the unique development issues and diversity of this particular user group. Teenagers are possibly the most diverse, dynamic and technologically-aware user group. Working with teenagers can enable researchers to gather valuable insights and opportunities to inform the design and implementation of new technologies. Researchers have now begun to acknowledge that Teen Computer Interaction is a specialised area of HCI and this book brings together some of the best work in this field to-date. The book provides relevant HCI communities with an inclusive account of methods and examples of best practice to inform those working with teenagers in research and design projects. The chapters recount research with teenagers in many different domains and provide many different contributions to the field of Teen Computer Interaction including design methods, models, case studies and ethical considerations. The aim of this book is to provide a solid foundation from which the discipline of Teen Computer Interaction can grow, by providing a valuable resource for those wishing to conduct HCI research with teenagers. Perspectives on HCI Research with Teenagersis aimed at academics, practitioners, designers, researchers and students who are interested in the new and emergent field of Teen Computer Interaction.

Introduction: HCI Reaches Adolescence

Adults have long been considered in detail in the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) community and children within the Child-Computer Interaction (CCI) community. However, teenagers (adolescents) have received far less specific consideration within the HCI and CCI areas (Fitton and Bell 2014; Fitton et al. 2013a). Teenagers are possibility the most diverse, dynamic, exciting, and technologically-aware user groups that will soon become be the next generation of adults. Working with teenagers can enable researchers to gather valuable insights and opportunities to inform the creation of new technologies. Researchers have now begun to explore this new and emerging area of Teen-Computer Interaction (TeenCI) and this book brings together some of the best work in this field to-date. The book provides the HCI and CCI communities with an inclusive account of methods and examples of best practise to inform those working with teenagers in technology contexts. The chapters recount research with teenagers in many different domains and provide many different contributions to the field of TeenCI including design methods, models, case studies and ethical consideration important for working with this user group. The aim of this book is to provide a solid foundation from which the TeenCI research area can grow alongside providing a valuable resource for those wishing to conduct HCI research with teenagers.