A tablet-based task for assessing environmental preferences in children and adults

• Main Authors: Kimberly L. Meidenbauer, Cecilia U.D. Stenfors, Michael P. Ingram, Marc G. Berman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2019-01-01
• Series: MethodsX
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016119302031

To assess environmental preferences in a wide age range of children, a tablet-based task was developed which can be used with children as young as 4-years-old. The current method uses images which have been rated on aesthetic preference in a separate adult sample to ensure that the nature and urban images shown are matched on aesthetics, allowing for a true evaluation of environmental preferences (without any confound of general aesthetics). However, the app is customizable and can evaluate preference for any set of 10 images researchers may be interested in (i.e. is not limited to environmental preferences or these specific images). • This task runs as an Android tablet app • The app allows for up to 10 pictures at a time and uses a ranking of 4 images on each trial (from frowny to happy face) where each image is compared with every other image at least once • The app was successfully employed with a sample of 4-to-11-year-old children and their parents/guardians Method name: Environmental preference task, Keywords: Nature preferences, Child development, Android application