User Research for Fitness app
In this 12-week project, we need to define a specific problem statement in the fitness sector, design and conduct a survey and diary study, and analyze the data. The final goal is to come up with design recommendations for the fitness app.
Problem
Young professionals working from home have difficulty sustaining their motivation to maintain regular exercise habits; thus, they are not meeting the recommended physical activity level.
Roles & Duration
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Conducted interviews and diary studies
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Analyzed data
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Wrote report and design recommendation
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Designed a poster
Sep 2021 - Dec 2021
Steps
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Secondary Research
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Problem Statement & Research Questions
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Interview Analysis
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Diary Study & Analysis
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Design Recommendation
Target Users
Young Professionals
20-35 years old
Residents of Canada
Working from home
9 AM - 5 PM
Monday to Friday
Sedentary lifestyle
Desk jobs
Mostly at home
Research Questions
1. What factors motivate young professionals working from home to maintain regular exercise habits?
2. What are the existing practices people use to maintain their motivation to exercise?
Study 1 : Interview
Participants
Demographics
Time
16 Participants
8 men, 8 women
12 single, 4 married
20-35 years old
30 Minutes
Medium
Purpose
Interviews were conducted remotely via Zoom, WeChat, WhatsApp and Google Meet calls
Identify Current Practices and motivating factors of exercising
Data Analysis
We took a deductive approach to data analysis. The analysis was conducted in two phases. First, each researcher independently analyzed the data from interviews they had conducted to identify themes and their patterns. Then, all researchers came together to present their results. During the group analysis, we examined and combined overlapping themes identified in individual analysis,
Identify themes and patterns in interview
Cultural work model for exercising based on data
Study 2: Diary Study
In this study, we sought to gain insight into motivation and behaviour related to physical activity habits. As a result, it was crucial to gather behavioural data in addition to attitudinal data from interviews. In addition, interviews rely on participants' memories, which may not provide a complete picture of factors that influence their experiences due to missing details and forgotten memories. Finally, establishing behaviour patterns requires continuous data collection over an extended period. Diary studies are ideal for collecting such data.
Participants
Time
Medium
4 Participants, 20 - 35 years olds
A week, two times a day
Google Form
Data Analysis
We completed the quantitative analysis by downloading Google form responses and analyzing them in Excel. We then conducted a qualitative analysis by creating an affinity diagram.
Quantitative Analysis
Qualitative Analysis
Research Insights
Current Practices
For current practices, we found that some exercise alone while others exercise in groups. When people exercise with others, they are more motivated and in a better mood. The use of devices like weighing scales and mobile app trackers is also common.
Motivators
We found that when individuals see their fitness progress, they feel a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, monetary investment and social rewards such as bonding with friends, further motivate people to exercise.
Barriers
Tight work schedules emerged as the biggest barrier reported by our participants.
Furthermore, lack of access to exercise infrastructure, poor weather and low energy levels are barriers that decrease motivation to exercise.
Design Recommendations
Facilitating commitment
Include elements of competition to support socializing
We recommend socializing exercises by including elements of competition because motivation levels are higher when individuals share their activity with someone.
Offer varying levels of financial commitment
Offering varying levels of financial commitment would ensure that money acts as motivation when appropriate without becoming a barrier.
Accommodating Flexibility
Take into account daily schedules to support exercise routine
Considering people’s daily schedules and helping them find suitable time during the day to fit in some physical activity would reduce the likelihood of skipping exercise.
Present physical activity options that do not demand a lot of time and energy
By doing this we can ensure that young professionals are able to participate in some form of exercise every day and therefore reinforce their habits.
Allowing for a flexible physical setting (indoors, outdoors, individually or in groups) would further enhance their ability to use whatever is currently available to them.
Accommodate flexible settings for exercise
Making it easy to restart exercise routines after unintentional breaks would ensure that young professionals are not demotivated because of it.
Provide support to rebound from unexpected situations such as poor weather and overtime work
Evoking a sense of accomplishment
Facilitate viewing and monitoring of fitness journey
Participants feel rewarded physically and mentally after exercising. Being able to view and monitor progress is a key factor that keeps people motivated to follow through with their commitments and habits.
Include a reward system
Rewards play a critical role in encouraging young professionals to pursue physical activity. Being rewarded for achieving a milestone would increase the likelihood of sticking to a physical activity routine.
Support data syncing from multiple devices
Tracking and monitoring require data collection and synchronization on a regular basis, it is important that we make it as seamless as possible.