Needfinding
The outbreak of Covid-19 has greatly impacted our daily lives and routines. Remote work, social distancing, and lockdowns have led to changes in the way we live and work. As a result, many individuals have started to pay more attention to their physical and mental well-being, particularly when it comes to tracking fitness goals. Setting and achieving fitness goals can be a challenging and rewarding experience, but it can also be difficult to navigate the plethora of tools and methods available for tracking fitness. In this need-finding study, we aim to understand the needs and challenges faced by individuals who track fitness goals, in order to identify opportunities for improving the user experience and help individuals achieve their fitness goals more effectively.
Methodology
The study recruited and interviewed 3 participants who were representative of different backgrounds and experiences related to personal health data. The first participant was a second-year male student from Emory University studying physical therapy, who also enjoys playing soccer in his free time. He was interviewed in person at the library on campus. The second participant was a senior male student from Cornell University majoring in computer science, who was interviewed over Zoom. The third participant was a working woman from Shanghai, China, who works in the fashion industry and is 25 years old. She was interviewed over Facetime.
The participants were chosen for their diverse backgrounds and experiences related to personal health data, as well as their willingness to participate in the study. They were recruited through a combination of cold calling, social media posts, and personal connections. The participants were asked a series of open-ended questions designed to probe their needs and pain points related to personal health data, as well as their attitudes, behaviors, and experiences. The questions were designed to focus on the “why” and “feelings” related to personal health data and were intended to elicit stories and emotions from the participants. The interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis.
The questions asked during the interviews were selected from a pool of 10 questions specifically focused on personal health data and fitness goals. The questions were designed to explore the participants’ experiences and needs related to setting, tracking, and achieving fitness goals. The questions included:
- Can you tell me about a specific instance when you set a fitness goal for yourself? How did you go about setting that goal?
- How do you typically track your progress toward your fitness goals?
- Can you share a story about a time when you faced a challenge in achieving a fitness goal? How did you overcome that challenge?
- What motivates you to keep working towards your fitness goals?
- How do you measure success when it comes to your fitness goals?
- Have you ever felt unmotivated or lost track of your fitness goals? How did you handle that situation?
- How do you adapt your fitness goals when life gets in the way?
- How do you stay accountable to yourself when working towards your fitness goals?
- Can you share an example of a particularly successful fitness goal you have achieved in the past? What made it successful?
- How do you balance short-term and long-term fitness goals? And how do you make sure they align with your overall lifestyle and well-being?
These questions were designed to elicit detailed, personal stories and insights from the participants about their experiences related to personal health data and fitness goals, and to explore the underlying motivations, challenges, and successes related to these topics.
Interview Results and analysis
Interview with luke
Luke set a fitness goal to go to the gym three times a week at the beginning of a semester last year, but as the semester progressed, coursework increased and he faced challenges in achieving his goal. He felt unmotivated, bored, and without clear signs of improvement. When the weather improved, he started running and stopped going to the gym.
Luke’s fitness journey exposed tensions and contradictions. One being, he meticulously plans his gym routines but neglects to schedule gym days in his calendar. Another tension is his initial goal of visiting the gym three times a week but struggles with consistency and motivation as coursework intensifies. Additionally, his lack of dietary changes may hinder his progress toward his goal of building muscle.
Surprising insights from the interview showed Luke having difficulty with posture and proper gym equipment use due to a lack of experience. “Although I could probably find the right instruction easily online, or simply by asking others for help, I did not seek that resource due to inconvenience." He also finds the gym environment unappealing and boring, possibly due to overcrowding and the closed environment.
Finally, although Luke failed to gain more muscle weight, he did achieve a successful fitness goal in the past. He planned to participate in a half marathon run and prepared for the event by partnering with his friend a month prior. He found that running in an open environment was much more interesting than doing sets in the gym, and he was also more motivated by training with his friend.
Interview with Lukas
Lukas has a general goal of becoming stronger and fitter for a better physical appearance and performance in soccer, but lacks clear and specific goals and does not track progress in a systematic way. He also has a back injury that limits his ability to perform certain exercises.
One tension revealed in the interview is that Lukas desires to become stronger and fitter, but does not seem to have a clear plan or strategy for achieving this goal. Another tension is that Lukas mentions feeling unmotivated or lazy at times, but also feels good after exercising, indicating that he may need help staying motivated.
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It is surprising that, like Luke, he prioritizes other forms of exercise such as soccer and running over going to the gym. He admits that participating in team sports bring more joy and the competitive aspect motivates him more. He recounts a time in high school when he formed the habit of running every day and the immediate feeling of well-being after exercise kept him doing so. After college, with more opportunities to play team sports, he enjoys playing soccer and basketball more.
To help Lukas achieve his goals, one could suggest that he work with a personal trainer who can guide him in setting clear and specific goals, tracking progress, and developing a plan that takes into account his back injury. Additionally, understanding more about Lukas’s lifestyle and work schedule may provide insight into how it may impact his ability to exercise.
Interview with Jocelyn
Based on the interview with Jocelyn, it seems that she has a general goal of becoming more fit and healthy, but does not have specific or measurable targets in mind. She has made some changes to her lifestyle, such as controlling her diet and tracking her progress through photos and weight tracking, but it is not clear if she has a structured plan or specific goals to guide her efforts.
The interview also highlights some tensions and contradictions in Jocelyn’s approach to fitness. For example, she stated that she did not have a specific fitness goal, but also mentioned wanting to lose weight. Additionally, she mentioned feeling guilty when she lost track of her goals, but also not blaming herself for it, which could be seen as a contradiction.
One intriguing aspect of the interview with Jocelyn was her lack of emphasis on any specific difficulties or triumphant fitness achievements. Instead, she chooses to focus on making dietary changes as a lifestyle shift rather than relying solely on physical exercise to reach her fitness goals. This approach indicates a priority on overall health and well-being, as opposed to singular fitness objectives.
To enhance her fitness journey, Jocelyn may find it helpful to establish clear, measurable goals and a structured plan to achieve them. This could include utilizing accountability and tracking tools, such as a fitness app or workout partner, to monitor progress and stay motivated. Furthermore, acquiring more knowledge about healthy eating and nutrition could aid in reaching her fitness goals in a sustainable and balanced manner.
Conclusion
A summarized overview of the three participants’ needs is presented below.
For Luke:
- Developing specific and measurable fitness goals
- Consistency and motivation when faced with obstacles or competing priorities
- Resources or support to help achieve fitness goals
- Help with body image or self-esteem issues
- Attention to eating habits
- More enjoyable form of exercise
- Better environment
For Lukas:
- Clear and specific fitness goal
- Developing a clear and specific fitness plan
- Finding ways to overcome a back injury
- Staying motivated to exercise
- Measuring progress
- More enjoyable form of exercise
For Jocelyn:
- Specific and measurable goals
- A more structured plan for achieving goals
- Accountability and tracking methods
- Healthy eating and nutrition education
From the interviews, it can be inferred that Luke, Lukas, and Jocelyn all have a general goal of becoming more fit and healthy, but may struggle with setting clear and specific goals, consistency, and motivation. And they all have different needs in order to achieve their fitness goals.
