Using the theory of affordances to understand environment-play transactions : environmental taxonomy of outdoor play space features – a scoping review

Morgenthaler, Thomas; Lynch, Helen; Loebach, Janet; Pentland, Duncan; Schulze, Christina

doi:10.5014/ajot.2024.050606

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Using the theory of affordances to understand environment-play transactions : environmental taxonomy of outdoor play space features – a scoping review
Authors:	Morgenthaler, Thomas Lynch, Helen Loebach, Janet Pentland, Duncan Schulze, Christina
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.5014/ajot.2024.050606
Published in:	American Journal of Occupational Therapy
Volume(Issue):	78
Issue:	4
Page(s):	7804185120
Issue Date:	Jul-2024
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	American Occupational Therapy Association
ISSN:	0272-9490 1943-7676
Language:	English
Subjects:	Human; Child; Environment design; Environment; Disabled children; Play and playthings; Taxonomic classification
Subject (DDC):	302: Social interaction
Abstract:	Importance: The transactions between the physical environment and children’s play have not been well studied. The theory of affordances provides a way to better understand how environmental characteristics offer opportunities for play occupation. Objective: To investigate the relationship between environmental characteristics of outdoor play spaces and children’s outdoor play and to develop an environmental taxonomy to support the analysis of play affordances in community play spaces. Data Sources: Peer-reviewed literature (1974–2023) was sourced from a previously published scoping review (Morgenthaler, Schulze, et al., 2023). The Academic Search Complete, Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched using the keywords and synonyms of playground, environmental qualities, and children with and without disabilities. Study Selection and Data Collection: A secondary analysis of the previously published scoping review was conducted. Included studies were those that provided descriptions of physical environment–play activity transactions. Findings: A qualitative content analysis of 45 articles was conducted and used to form an environmental taxonomy. This taxonomy consisted of 14 space and object categories defined by their functional qualities and linked to play affordances. An array of 284 play occupations were identified in different forms. Play affordances of spaces and object categories and their functional environmental qualities were subsequently identified. Conclusions and Relevance: This study provides evidence to support the understanding of how the physical environment shapes children’s outdoor play occupations. Plain-Language Summary: The study authors developed the Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features as a tool that occupational therapists can use to better understand and describe how the physical environment shapes opportunities for play. The tool could also be useful to justify environmental intervention in schools and public playgrounds to create spaces that support more play for a diversity of children.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/31171
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Occupational Therapy (IER)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	P4Play – Europäisches Doktoratsprogramm zur Förderung des kindlichen Spiels
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Morgenthaler, T., Lynch, H., Loebach, J., Pentland, D., & Schulze, C. (2024). Using the theory of affordances to understand environment-play transactions : environmental taxonomy of outdoor play space features – a scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(4), 7804185120. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050606

Morgenthaler, T. et al. (2024) ‘Using the theory of affordances to understand environment-play transactions : environmental taxonomy of outdoor play space features – a scoping review’, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(4), p. 7804185120. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050606.

T. Morgenthaler, H. Lynch, J. Loebach, D. Pentland, and C. Schulze, “Using the theory of affordances to understand environment-play transactions : environmental taxonomy of outdoor play space features – a scoping review,” American Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol. 78, no. 4, p. 7804185120, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.5014/ajot.2024.050606.

MORGENTHALER, Thomas, Helen LYNCH, Janet LOEBACH, Duncan PENTLAND und Christina SCHULZE, 2024. Using the theory of affordances to understand environment-play transactions : environmental taxonomy of outdoor play space features – a scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. Juli 2024. Bd. 78, Nr. 4, S. 7804185120. DOI 10.5014/ajot.2024.050606

Morgenthaler, Thomas, Helen Lynch, Janet Loebach, Duncan Pentland, and Christina Schulze. 2024. “Using the Theory of Affordances to Understand Environment-Play Transactions : Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features – a Scoping Review.” American Journal of Occupational Therapy 78 (4): 7804185120. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050606.

Morgenthaler, Thomas, et al. “Using the Theory of Affordances to Understand Environment-Play Transactions : Environmental Taxonomy of Outdoor Play Space Features – a Scoping Review.” American Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol. 78, no. 4, July 2024, p. 7804185120, https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050606.