Dear VRMNC, 

My name is Maxwell Hartt and I’m a professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at Queen’s University. I am currently recruiting participants to take part in a research study that looks at how the built environment can inspire or limit older adults’ (those aged 65 years and over) ability to play in Victoria, BC. The research project is titled, “Aging Playfully: Investigating the relationship between play, public space, and older adult well-being”.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between play, public space, and older adult (aged 65 years or older) well-being. As people age their social, physical, and cognitive life spaces often shrink, leading to social isolation and loneliness. In contrast, play is a spontaneous and creative behaviour that is well suited to combat older adult loneliness. This study will provide needed research on how older adults perceive play within their communities, and how public play interventions have the potential to improve the physical and mental health of older adults.

Using the participatory research method of photovoice, participants in the study will photograph from their perspective features of their neighbourhood that either (1) enable them to play or (2) limit their ability to play.  

Participation in this research study is completely voluntary and participants reserve the right to withdraw their consent to participate at any time. The study will take place over the course of three weeks. The study is organized in two parts with three phases:  

Part One:

• Phase One: Virtual Photovoice Training  
• This phase will consist of a one-hour photovoice training session that will be held via Zoom.  

• Phase Two: Photograph Collection  
• This phase will involve older adults collecting photographs of their neighbourhood, within a seven-day time period.  

Part Two:

• Phase Three: In-person focus Group Discussion  
• The final phase will require participants to attend one of four focus groups in which they discuss their photographs with 2-3 other participants.  

We will be asking for participants’ consent prior to the photovoice training session and photo collection period. At this time participants will also be asked whether they would be interested in being contacted to partake in a focus group discussion. If the participant agrees to be contacted and they are interested in participating in a focus group, they will be asked to provide consent again prior to the focus group.

There are no direct benefits related to participation in the study. However, with this study, community participation will help the investigators determine the availability, accessibility, and appropriateness of public play infrastructure for older adults in Victoria, BC. Based on older adult experiences we hope to understand if specific communities are underserviced regarding opportunities to play. The information gathered from this study will be used to develop a set of recommendations for planners, policymakers, and community leaders to improve opportunities and equitable access to play infrastructure. Therefore, the findings and recommendations that are reached as a result of the study have the potential to influence city planning in the future.

Please find attached the recruitment flyer with all the necessary details for participants along with my contact information. The recruitment flyer can be distributed through a listserv, and if appropriate we can send physical flyers that can be displayed in a central location and/or bulletin board. We look forward to hearing from you and discussing the research in greater detail. If you have any ethics questions or concerns, please contact the General Research Ethics Board (GREB) at 1-844-535-2988 (Toll-free in North America) or email chair.GREB@queensu.ca. 

If you have any questions or would like to talk about the project, please feel free to contact me at m.hartt@queensu.ca or by calling 613-533-6000 ext.75038. 

Sincerely,  

Maxx

Dr Maxwell Hartt

Assistant Professor

Department of Geography and Planning

Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6

https://www.queensu.ca/geographyandplanning/people/faculty/maxwell-hartt