Placement Blog 8
This is my 8th blog about my placement year at London 2012 Olympic legacy charity Join In UK.
Behavioural Insights…
For the last couple of weeks I have been lucky to be involved in another area of work at placement that is new to me! Join in are currently conducting research called ‘Behavioural Insights’.
Behavioural Insights draws on research from behavioural economics, psychology, and neuroscience to understand how humans behave and make decisions in everyday life. Whilst I enjoyed studying a couple of modules in sports psychology, as part of my degree in first and second year, this isn’t an area we covered. I am definitely finding it interesting!
The research involves looking at the different barriers and motivations for sport volunteering and how you can increase the number of people offering their free time. Some of the barriers include ‘not enough time’, ‘not sporty enough’, ‘not confident enough’, ‘never heard of it’ and ‘don’t have the skills’. Join in are hoping that the research will contribute to what methods can be initiated to increase the chance of volunteering becoming part of someone’s lifestyle.
One of the social experiments that Join in have conducted so far, involves the use of Facebook ads. The ad’s come up on peoples news feeds with examples of people that have engaged in volunteering, and Join in are testing how many people click on the ad’s. For example, ‘I am Bob, I am a teacher and I am helping grow sport in London, lend a hand in London today”. It will be interesting to see the results of the experiment, especially as the use of social media is increasing by the second as well as the influence that it has on people’s lifestyle choices.
The different and slightly bizarre methods of commuting in London…
One thing that I have questioned during my placement year is the variety of methods of commuting people chose to use! It takes me around 30-40 minutes to walk from Waterloo to Farringdon each morning, and then the same on the way back in the evening. I enjoy walking as its cheaper, quicker and healthier than the tube or bus and there’s not a bad view of the River Thames on route. However, I have definitely come to the conclusion that walking to work is the most out dated method of commuting.
There is of course the classic ‘Boris Bike’ you can hire. With a swipe of your credit card you can grab a bike and go, which is a great initiative. However, whilst there are cycle lanes I have seen far too many near misses of cars or motorbikes crashing with cyclists on my route to work. Cyclists also love to ride through red traffic lights in London! I would rather cycle in a quieter area of the city.
The other method is a scooter. I don’t think I have still come to terms with seeing a fully-grown adult on a scooter. I got a scooter when I was 7 years old, and that was the last time I rode one. The problem with scooters is that they are too slow for the cycle lane but too fast for the pavement. Scooter commuters seem to find it difficult to ride them as well, I have seen a few women struggle to grasp the technique and I have overtaken them walking.
Unfortunately I am yet to see crazy Boris riding around London, but you never know!
One of the most bizarre methods of commuting has to be the ‘Hoverboards’. Again I associated these gadgets with children. It involves the person balancing on an electronic board and then some how (I don’t understand how) steering with their body. I get how they can be fun to use, in maybe a skate park. But I personally can’t stand them on the pavements and roads of London! They weave in and out of people and then come up zooming behind you.
The delightful hoverboard! I am afraid I won't be getting one of these soon!
It has definitely made my walk to work more insightful and entertaining watching people use these various gadgets. However, I think for me personally its safer choosing the ‘simple and boring’ option of walking!
Louise Rose
(Sports and Social Sciences)