Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Taryn Brandel
PRLS 330-01
The goal behind this research is to gain insights about the opinions and attitudes regarding the
services of the client. The findings of the research will help the client better understand and
A common concern of students was that the clients facility does not meet the desired space
requirements. Students noted that the issue of crowdedness can deter them from going to the gym
and that this issue could be mitigated if there were a bigger facility. Another key finding was that
females use the weight room far less than their male counterparts. Participants indicated that the
marketing efforts of the client can be increased to bring more awareness to the clients programs
and services. From the research conducted, I was able to conclude that students want to have
more space to workout, that many women feel uncomfortable or intimidated in the weight room,
and that intramurals are seen as positive programming for Gonzaga students. Students also
implement an email notification system to monitor busy times at the fitness center and let
students know of times when its less crowded. Another suggestion was to create an introductory
weight lifting class geared toward female students. Placing an extra set of free weights upstairs
was another suggestion to make women feel more comfortable at the facility. Additionally,
students voiced that adding another round of freshmen games would be well received by
freshmen and give them another opportunity to experience intramurals if they missed registering
Participant demographics
The participant demographics of our research included a focus group consisting of 2 males and 1
female who are all current freshmen at Gonzaga studying in the School of Business, College of
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Arts & Sciences, and the School of Engineering. The in-depth interview was with a senior
Introduction
Problem definition
Colleges and universities are under mounting pressure to improve the overall wellness and health
benefits to the student populations in which they serve. Convenient access to university fitness
facilities not only encourages physical activity, but also supports models of healthy lifestyles
behaviors and choices. While universities are allocating substantial financial resources into
athletic and recreational sport facilities, college students are not maximizing the services
provided.
The research use will be enlightenment, which will serve to enhance understanding and possibly
challenge existing beliefs regarding services provided by the Universitys fitness center. Findings
will be useful to fitness center administrators in determining service delivery content and
Report organization
This report begins by explaining the purpose of our research for the client. The overview of the
research then outlines key findings, conclusions and recommendations. The demographics of the
participants follows this, giving more insight to the students interviewed in the research. The
report then defines the problem that the research intends to address, the importance of why the
research was conducted, how the data was collected and analyzed, and addresses problems that
occurred within the research. The report then offers a more extensive look into the findings,
conclusions and recommendations of the research. Lastly, the appendix of the report consists of
the guided questions used in both the focus group and in-depth interview when conducting the
research.
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Data collection and analysis methods
All of the data collected in this research was primary-data. The collection of data was gathered
through two ways: a focus group as well as an in-depth interview. Both sessions with participants
were recorded and then transcribed. The data was analyzed through thematic analysis where the
transcripts of both interviews were reviewed to identify patterns and themes throughout the
students responses.
Problems encountered
A minor problem occurred while conducting the focus group when one of the female participants
did not show up, however, we were still able to have a great discussion and gain valuable insight
A common theme discussed among all participants was that students are very happy with the
customer service provided by the clients staff. I was also able to identify that the lack of space of
the clients facility is seen as an issue, both in terms of the physical building itself, along with
available field space. My research highlighted that crowdedness can be seen as a deterrent to
students going to the clients facility because participants noted they dont get as much out of
their workout when the facility is extremely busy. Students did not see the current schedule as
inhibiting to their ability to make use of the facility. An insight gathered from the focus group in
particular established that freshmen really enjoyed being involved in intramurals through
Freshmen Games because they it let them learn more about what kind of sports are offered
through the intramural program. Another finding from our research is that women typically feel
uncomfortable or intimidated in the weight room at the facility. All participants indicated that an
introductory weight lifting class geared toward teaching women how to use the weight room
would be a positive implementation. Students shared that the marketing efforts of the client can
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be increased in order to improve awareness of the services and opportunities that exist at the
clients facility.
Conclusions
Students see the lack of space as an issue and would like to either see the clients facility expand
or be set up differently to allow for more space. Students at Gonzaga are unaware of the clients
marketing efforts and would benefit from increased exposure to marketing material from the
client. It was determined that females feel uncomfortable in the weight room for a variety of
reasons, including the fact that many do not know what they are doing, they feel that guys gawk
at them while in the weight room and do not feel that there is sufficient space for them to work
out comfortably. Lastly, the intramural sports offered by the client are seen as positive
Recommendations
Throughout my discussions with participants, there were many positive recommendations made
to address students concerns of the client. The first recommendation was to establish some kind
of system that sends out emails to students, notifying them of times when the facility fluctuates
in being busy/crowded. Another suggestion was to create an introductory weights class that
teaches women how to use properly use the machines/weights as well as having another area in
the facility equipped with free weights to even out the distribution between men and women
using free weights. Participants of the focus group suggested adding another round of freshmen
games to allow freshmen that missed the first deadline to have another chance to become
involved with intramurals. The last major suggestion by students was in regards to increasing the
marketing efforts of the client by utilizing various platforms that will connect with students such
as posters in Hemmingson, email blasts, being featured on Gonzagas snapchat story and posting
Allen, R., & Ross, C. M. (2013). An Assessment of Proximity of Fitness Facilities and Equipment
and Actual Perceived Usage by Undergraduate University Students: A Pilot Study. Recreational
Sports Journal, (37), 123-135. Retrieved from www.RSJ-Journal.com
Fullerton, D. S. (2011, Spring). A Collaborative Approach to College and University Student Health
and Wellness. NEW DIRECTIONS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, 153, 61-69. Retrieved from
wileyonlinelibrary.com
Racette, S. B., Deusinger, S. S., Strube, M. J., Highstein, G. R., & Deusinger, R. H. (2005, Spring).
Weight Changes, Exercise, and Dietary Patterns During Freshman and Sophomore Years of
College. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH, 53(6), 245-251.
Reed, J. (2007, Winter). Perceptions of the Availability of Recreational Physical Activity Facilities
on a University Campus. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEA, 55(4), 189-194.
Strand, B. N., Egeberg, J., & Mozumdar, A. (2010). The Prevalence and Characteristics of Wellness
Programs and Centers at Two-Year and Four-Year Colleges and Universities. Recreational
Sports Journal, 34, 45-57.
If you havent done so already, would you please take a moment to look over and sign your
participation agreements?
Before we begin, I would like to take a moment for all of us to introduce ourselves.
Welcome to this focus group session and thank you so much for being here! The goal today is to
obtain your freshman perspectives of the Rudolf Fitness Center.
In this focus group, I hope to delve into as much information as possible within the allotted time.
I have several prepared questions that I will be asking the group. As I present each question, I
will ask you to take a minute and write down a few thoughts on the subject prior to answering.
There is no right or wrong answer and I want everyone to have an opportunity to contribute their
thoughts. I have some basic ground rules for the discussion. I will ask for one responder to speak
at a time; for you to project your voice because we are recording; and, for you to ask questions
whenever you have them. As the moderator I will try to keep the discussion as focused and
organized as possible.
I would like to remind you that I am audio tape recording this session and that all of you will be
assigned a pseudonym to protect your anonymity. All the information that I gather will be used to
enhance and challenge current understandings of the Rudolf Fitness Centers services in order to
better serve student health and well-being. At this time does anyone have any questions about
how the information we collect today will be used?
Questions
1.WhatisyourawarenessandopinionregardingtheRudolfFitnessCenter?(Repeatthe
questions)Pleasetakeamomenttojotdownafewthoughtsbeforewebegin.
2.Howcomfortableareyouusingtheweightroomandwhy?(Repeatthequestions)Pleasetake
amomenttojotdownafewthoughtsbeforewebegin.
a.Howcantheweightroombedistributedsothatwomenareinspiredtouseit?
b.Wouldyoubeinterestedinparticipatinginanintroductoryweightliftingcourse?Whyorwhy
not?
3.InrelationtotheRudolfFitnessCenter,whatfitnessactivitiesareyouinvolvedinorwould
liketoparticipatein?(Repeatthequestions)Pleasetakeamomenttojotdownafewthoughts
beforewebegin.
a.Howoftendoyouexercise?
b.HowdoyougetinvolvedwiththeRudolfFitnessCenterandtheprogramsitoffers?
c.WhatarethefactorsthateitherhinderorattractyoutotheRudolfFitnessCenter?(Proximity,
schedule,crowdedness,hoursofoperation,etc.)(Repeatthequestions)Pleasetakeamomentto
jotdownafewthoughtsbeforewebegin.
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4.WhatcantheRudolfFitnessCenterdotobetterpromoteintramuralstofreshman?(Repeatthe
questions)Pleasetakeamomenttojotdownafewthoughtsbeforewebegin.
a.HowcantheRudolfFitnessCenterattractmorewomenintotheintramuralprogram?
b.Ifyouhavebeeninvolvedinintramurals,whathasbeenyourfavoritesport?Ifnot,what
wouldenticeyoutogetinvolved?
5.WhatcantheRudolfFitnessCenterdotoimproveoverallservice:customerservice,
equipment,andschedules?(Repeatthequestions)Pleasetakeamomenttojotdownafew
thoughtsbeforewebegin.
a.DuringyourtimeatGonzaga,howhastheRudolfFitnessCenteranditsservicesbeen
marketedtoyou?b.WhatarethebestcommunicationmethodsfortheRudolfFitnessCenterto
reachyou?
6.FinalThoughts(LastQuestion)
Aswestarttowrapthingsup,isthereanythingwehavenotdiscussedthatyouwouldliketo
address?Isthereanythingyouwouldliketoadd?(Repeatthequestions)Pleasetakeamomentto
jotdownafewthoughtsbeforewebegin.
Closing
Thankyousomuchforyourinsightstoday.Thissessionhasbeenaninvaluableexperience.
Thankyouagainforparticipatinginthisfocusgroup.
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Executive IDI questionnaire
1. What is your opinion of the Rudolf Fitness Center and its services?
a. What can the Rudolf Fitness Center do to improve service to students in the areas of
customer service, equipment, and schedules?
2. How can the Rudolf Fitness Center attract more women into the intramural program?
a. What is the Rudolf Fitness Center not doing to encourage intramural participation by
women?
3. How can the Rudolf Fitness Center weight room be better organized so that women are
encouraged to use it?
4. What can the Rudolf Fitness Center do to make the facility better?
5. What is your opinion of the Rudolf Fitness Centers marketing efforts to students?
6. How often do you engage in fitness activities each week (e.g., one day a week, two days
a week, etc.)?
a. To what extent does the proximity of fitness facilities influence the amount of
physical activity that you do and why?