Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
A pilot study into users’ anxiety in the London Underground network environments (for the purpose of re-designing safety information)
Kim, Jisun; Gustafson-Pearce, Olinkha
Type:
Year:
2016
Editor:
Boks, Casper; Sigurjonsson, Johannes; Steinert, Martin; Vis, Carlijn; Wulvik, Andreas
Author:
Series:
NordDESIGN
Institution:
Brunel University, United Kingdom
Section:
Service design
Page(s):
032-041
ISBN:
978-1-904670-80-3
Abstract:
The aim of the study is to present a novel approach to help relieve customers’ anxiety experienced in the London Underground environments, through enabling provision of re-designed safety information. In this paper, anxiety as an emotional state experienced when facing potential threat was measured through a self-report anxiety scale. The findings showed some of the anxiety-inducing situations in the environments experienced by passengers, which include seeing other passengers’ anti-social behaviour, overcrowding, noise and late-night travel. The situations demonstrate when passengers’ information needs (the gap between the required state of knowledge to resolve a problem in a situation and the current state of knowledge) might arise. Sense of control has been stated as one of the important factors which may buffer anxious arousal. This paper therefore discusses a pilot study which measures anxious arousal and shows preliminary results from the study, and also makes some suggestions based on the results of the study and the relevant literature.
Keywords:
