SOPARC: System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities
Tools and Measures

%title

SOPARC: System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities

January 2006
January, 2006
Author:
Thomas L. McKenzie, Ph.D., Deborah A. Cohen, MD, MPH
Topic:
Parks & Recreation, Parks
Population Served:
Unspecified
Location by State:
National
Study Type:
Measures
DOWNLOAD PDF (0.21 MB), DOWNLOAD PDF (0.21 MB), DOWNLOAD PDF (0.21 MB), DOWNLOAD PDF (0.21 MB)
Description:

SOPARC is a validated direct observation tool for assessing park and recreation areas, including park users’ physical activity levels, gender, activity modes/types, and estimated age and ethnicity groupings. It also collects information on park activity area characteristics (e.g., accessibility, usability, supervision, and organization).

A free 27 minute SOPLAY/SOPARC Introduction, Practice, and Assessment Training DVD is available from Active Living Research. Electronic download and hard copy DVD are available.

A few SOPARC observer training videos are also available on YouTube.

The SOPARC online application has been discontinued, but the full-text user guide is still available here.

The SOPARC app is also available for Apple i-Pads. Download for free on the Apple iTunes App Store.

 

Related Tools & Resources

All Tools & Resources

Contribution of Public Parks to Physical Activity
Document Type: Research Papers
Topics:
Parks & Recreation, Parks
The use of direct observation to assess physical activity
Document Type: Research Papers
Topics:
Parks & Recreation, Parks, Recreation Programs
Adaptation of the System for Observing Physical Activity and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) to Assess Age Groupings of Children
Document Type: Research Papers
Topics:
Parks & Recreation, Playgrounds
System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC): Reliability and Feasibility Measures
Document Type: Research Papers
Topics:
Parks & Recreation, Parks, Playgrounds, Recreation Programs
Systematic Observation of Physical Activity and Its Contexts
Document Type: Presentations
Topics:
Parks & Recreation, Parks, Playgrounds, Schools, Physical Education
Systematic Observation of Physical Activity using iSOPARC: An iPad Application for Research and Practice
Document Type: Presentations
Topics:
Parks & Recreation, Parks, Playgrounds, Trails and Greenways, Sports, Recreation Programs, Schools, Preschool and Day Care, Before or After School, Recess, School Facilities, Communities, Rural, Joint Use Agreements
Systematic Observation of Physical Activity and Its Contexts - 2014
Document Type: Presentations
Topics:
Parks & Recreation, Parks, Playgrounds, Trails and Greenways, Schools, Before or After School, School Policies, Physical Education, Recess, Joint Use Agreements
SOPARNA: System for Observing Physical Activity and Recreation in Natural Areas
Document Type: Tools and Measures
Topics:
Parks & Recreation, Parks
Systematic Observation of Physical Activity using iSOPARC: An iPad Application for Research and Practice, 2015
Document Type: Presentations
Topics:
Parks & Recreation, Parks, Playgrounds, Trails and Greenways, Sports, Schools, Before or After School, Communities, Rural, Joint Use Agreements

STAY UP TO DATE

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.

RECENTLY ADDED TOOLS & RESOURCES
Open Streets: Trends and Opportunities
Research Briefs & Syntheses
Contributing to helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Truly shifting...
Research Papers
A Northern European perspective on creating more activity friendly cities
Research Papers

more tools & resources
Annual Conference 2018

ALR2018 will be held February 11-14, 2018 at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

...

more info

MOVE! A BLOG ABOUT ACTIVE LIVING

Active Living Champion Dr. James F. Sallis Receives 2018 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award

ALR's Jim Sallis is honored for translating research findings from the built...

April 05, 2018
Press Release

more MOVE!