title: Activating schoolyards: study design of a quasi-experimental schoolyard intervention study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the Activating Schoolyards Study is to develop, implement, document and assess a comprehensive schoolyard intervention to promote physical activity (PA) during school recess for primary school children (grade 4-8). The intervention is designed to implement organizational and structural changes in the physical environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study builds on a quasi-experimental study design using a mixed method approach including: 1) an exploratory study aimed at providing input for the developing process; 2) an evaluation of the effect of the interventions using a combination of accelerometer, GPS and GIS; 3) a process evaluation facilitating the intervention development process and identifying barriers and facilitators in the implementation process; 4) a post-intervention end-user evaluation aimed at exploring who uses the schoolyards and how the schoolyards are used. The seven project schools (cases) were selected by means of an open competition and the interventions were developed using a participatory bottom-up approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The participatory approach and case selection strategy make the study design novel. The use of a mixed methods design including qualitative as well as quantitative methods can be seen as a strength, as the different types of data complement each other and results of one part of the study informed the following parts. A unique aspect of our study is the use of accelerometers in combination with GPS and GIS in the effect evaluation to objectively determine where and how active the students are in the schoolyard, before and after the intervention. This provides a type of data that, to our knowledge, has not been used before in schoolyard interventions. Exploring the change in behavior in relation to specific intervention elements in the schoolyard will lead to recommendations for schools undergoing schoolyard renovations at some point in the future.
authors.affiliation: Research unit for Active Living, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark. hbandersen@health.sdu.dk.|Centre for Intervention Research in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5a, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark. hbandersen@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Henriette Bondo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Research unit for Active Living, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark. cspawlowski@health.sdu.dk.|Centre for Intervention Research in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5a, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark. cspawlowski@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Charlotte Skau
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Pawlowski
authors.affiliation: Danish Cancer Society, Department of Prevention and Information, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. hanneb@cancer.dk.
authors.forename: Hanne Bebendorf
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Scheller
authors.affiliation: Research unit for Active Living, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark. JTroelsen@health.sdu.dk.|Centre for Intervention Research in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5a, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark. JTroelsen@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Troelsen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Intervention Research in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5a, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark. mtoftager@health.sdu.dk.|National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5a, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark. mtoftager@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toftager
authors.affiliation: Research unit for Active Living, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark. jschipperijn@health.sdu.dk.|Centre for Intervention Research in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5a, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark. jschipperijn@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schipperijn
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D002648:Child; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012107:Research Design; D012574:Schools