Monitoring Structured Experiences during Youth Programs: Development of Brief Measures of Perceived Value and Engagement

Taggart

et al. 2018

JYD

Using themes (such as the Wild West or Survivor or Star Wars) in camp settings may enhance the quality of camp activities and youths' overall camp experience. We evaluated the effect of theming camp experiences on the quality of subjective experiences of campers. Campers (N = 231) in 3 sessions of a residential 4-H camp participated in the study. One camp session was fully themed (all activities used tangible and intangible props, cues, and imaginary story contexts), a second was partially themed (intangible cues and stories only), and the third was not themed. Questionnaires measuring the quality of immediate subjective experiences (N=1,847) were completed following each of 8 activity sessions (e.g., climbing, fishing, swimming). Campers also completed a questionnaire for the purpose of overall camp evaluation at the end of their camp sessions. Activity-level data were analyzed using linear mixed modeling techniques. Ordinary least-squares regression was used to analyze campers' overall camp experiences. Results at the activity level revealed significant theme-by-activity interaction effects. At the camp level, a hypothesized causal sequence linking theme to likelihood to recommend was supported.

“…A previous study found acceptable alpha reliability of .71 (Ellis, Taggart, et al, 2017). The alpha reliability estimate for the scale during this study was acceptable at .67.…”

Section: Overall Camp Engagementsupporting

confidence: 50%

Does Theming Camp Experiences Lead to Greater Quality, Satisfaction, and Promotion?

Lacanienta

Taggart

et al. 2018

JYD

“…Evidence of validity is also present. The measure of perceived value of time spent has produced positive correlations with perceptions of safety and support in youth settings, as well as three indicators of the quality of structured youth experiences: engagement, meaningfulness, and satisfaction (Ellis et al, 2016). The alpha reliability estimate for the current study was .94.…”

Section: Perceived Value Of Time Spentmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…Perceived value of time spent is defined as "the individual's degree of contentment with her or his decision to participate in the structured experience" (Ellis, Taggart, Martz, Lepley, & Jamal, 2016). Five items were included on the questionnaire: Reliability coefficients of .82 (Ellis et al, 2016) and .93 (Taggart, 2017) were previously reported. Evidence of validity is also present.…”

Section: Perceived Value Of Time Spentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theming, Co-Creation, and Quality of Structured Experiences at Camp

Jiang

Lacanienta

et al. 2019

JYD

Self Cite

Lacanienta and his colleagues (2018) recently reported results of a study of the effect of themes on quality of experience of youths during summer camp activities. Existing literature suggested that theming activity sessions would have a strong main effect. Results, though, revealed an activity-by-theme interaction effect, i.e., themes seem to be effective in some activities but not others. In this follow-up study, we describe results of a secondary analysis revealing significant new insights regarding theme. Adding an indicator of campers' co-created, lived-experience theme into the models tested substantially clarified how objective theme, lived-experience theme, and activity interact in influencing the quality of structured experiences. This study, then, underscores the importance of including measures of participants' co-created lived experience as we seek to understand techniques that can be used to enhance the quality of youths' structured camp experiences.

“…Meaningfulness has been defined as "the extent to which the structured experience yielded active thought about something learned during that experience" (Ellis et al, 2016, p. 7). This TSE operationalization of meaningfulness has been used to evaluate an approach for classifying the effectiveness of 4-H meetings (Ellis et al, 2016). Meetings high in both engagement and perceived value of time spent are classified as "positive youth development" meetings.…”

Section: Meaningfulnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Meaningfulness scores for "positive youth development" meetings were significantly higher than meetings classified as "hedonic," "instrumental," or "unproductive." Perceived value of time spent refers to the individuals' degree of contentment with her or his decision to commit time and personal resources to participate in the structured experience (Ellis et al, 2016). Perceived value has been studied extensively in the business and tourism literature (e.g., Petrick, 2002;Zeithaml, 1988), but those constructions of perceived value focus on the financial value of specific product or activity features.…”

Section: Meaningfulnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Experience Industry Strategies to Increase Quality of Youth Program Experiences

Taggart

Jiang

et al. 2019

JYD

Self Cite

We evaluated 4 “experience industry” strategies for enhancing the quality of immediate experiences for 4-H youth: theming, adding multisensory experiences, personalizing interactions, and providing memorabilia. These strategies are commonly used by theme parks, restaurants, resorts, attractions, and other experience industry organizations, but their application to youth services is sporadic. 4-H youth (n = 30) participated in a series of 8 outdoor recreation activity sessions. Each activity session, 1 per week for 8 consecutive weeks, was structured using a unique combination of the 4 strategies. Participants completed questionnaires measuring 5 dimensions of experience quality after each activity session. Theme and personalization of experiences were found to significantly increase experience quality.