Abstract
This paper examines the study space preferences of college students in their respective university colleges. The study utilized principles of visual ethnography to collect participatory photographic data. Student participants completed three tasks, a demographic survey, participant-supplied photographs, and an exit interview. We recruited from the Colleges of Architecture and Education and Human Development 60 participants who captured their preferred study spaces in their colleges and adjacent areas through photographic evidence. Grounded theory and qualitative coding were applied to analyze and create preliminary code themes from the visual and textual data to further evaluate student study preferences. The authors discovered that there were differences, and sometimes similarities, of space availability between the colleges, patterns of semesterly inhabiting behavior and transient movement, and organic ability for collaboration.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Dr Stephan Bales for suggesting comments during editing of this manuscript. The authors would also like to thank Babette Perkins for designing the photo tutorial.
Funding
Funding for this research was provided by the T3: Texas A&M Triads for Transformation seed-grant program.
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Appendix A: Student photo study questionnaire
Appendix A: Student photo study questionnaire
Answer the following questions with a photo. Then use the info tool in Google Photos to number the photo corresponding to the question (#1, #2, etc.) and please add a description on that line as well. See the Info Sheet for instructions.
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1.
What are your favorite study locations? Photograph three.
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2.
What additional resources do you need to complete your favorite study area?
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3.
Where do you feel most productive/focused on campus?
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4.
Do you have a departmental dedicated space for your department?
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5.
What is your favorite quiet place?
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6.
What does your study space look like when you’re working?
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7.
If you are studying away from the library, who do you go to ask questions?
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8.
Is there a computer/lab you like to use?
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9.
What is your favorite group study space?
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10.
Where is a place that’s too noisy to study?
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11.
What is a space that makes you feel safe?
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12.
To optimize your study space, what elements do you like to control?
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13.
What spaces allow you to study long hours or after hours?
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14.
What are your preferred study hours?
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a.
Early morning
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b.
Late morning/early afternoon
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c.
Late afternoon/early evening
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d.
Late evening
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e.
Night
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a.
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15.
How far are you willing to walk or drive to a study space?
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Budzise-Weaver, T.M., Melgoza, P., Lavy, S. et al. Interpretation of space: an analysis of study space usage on a university campus. Learning Environ Res (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-023-09484-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-023-09484-8