Pico Play
Pico Play is a global leader in the planning, design, development and construction of world-class themed attractions and entertainment that deliver extraordinary and memorable experiences to millions…
read moreNew Psychology research led out of New Zealand’s University of Otago is backing up the old saying that ‘birds of a feather flock together’.
The findings emerged after researchers used high-definition video cameras on the roof of Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium to track and analyse how strangers formed groups.
They found that individuals were likely to join groups containing members with similar physical traits – including levels of attractiveness. The researchers also discovered that attractive women were the most likely to be placed in the physical centre of social groups.
These are the first findings from a unique social psychology experiment using Forsyth Barr Stadium as a giant laboratory. The study appears in the journal PLOS ONE and involved researchers at the University of Otago; the University of Oxford, UK; the University of Maryland, USA; and Dunedin company Animation Research Ltd (ARL).
The research team used a high-definition sports video camera mounted on the stadium’s roof to record and track the behaviour of 172 study participants as they interacted in a 600 metre² space. Each participant was given a numbered cap to wear, so they could be identified as they moved around. Custom-made ARL sports tracking software was used to gain 30 sets of co-ordinates each second for every person.
They were also photographed on the day by the research team; with the physical attractiveness of each participant was rated by three members of the research team to produce an averaged single attractiveness score. This score was later matched with observations about how individuals grouped together.
Participants were asked to ‘mingle’ while the researchers set up the study, and to form groups of any number and composition and raise their hand once this was done. They were also directed to form new groups eight more times.
Study lead author Professor Jamin Halberstadt, of the University of Otago’s Department of Psychology, says the study aimed to test the feasibility of the novel research approach and to answer several longstanding, fundamental questions about the first stages of social group formation.
Professor Halberstadt explained “for one, we wanted to know if people group together based on physical traits that they share, such as gender or physical attractiveness.
“We also wanted to find out if these traits predicted the physical position of individuals in their groups. Finally, we sought to determine if how close they stood to others would predict how cooperative they would be in a future group task.”
The researchers found that on average, participants formed groups of six individuals, and that they were more likely to approach others of similar attractiveness.
According to Professor Halberstadt “women and attractive individuals were also more likely than men and unattractive individuals to be in the centre of their groups. Our analysis could not confirm whether this was because they acted as ‘social attractors’, although this is the likely explanation - as we didn’t find evidence that they were jumping into the middle of the group as it formed.”
Finally, analysis of how close an individual stood to other members when the group formed showed that those who “submerged” themselves in their group put less effort into a later ‘foraging’ task that required the entire group to co-operate.
The task involved gathering 500 one-inch washers, randomly scattered around the stadium, and depositing them one at a time in a large basin in a corner of the stadium.
Professor Halberstadt added “participants who were closer on average to other participants at the beginning of the study were also the ones who were less cooperative at the end of it. This is consistent with a known association between anonymity and ‘social loafing’, but more research is needed to clarify what are the motivations behind, and the links between, the behaviours we saw.”
Professor Halberstadt says that up until now, researchers of group behaviour have had to either sacrifice the spontaneity and freedom of movement of field observations, or the control and precise measurement of the laboratory setting.
He stated “we’ve now found a happy medium by using a stadium-size laboratory and applying unobtrusive state-of-the-art tracking technology to participants’ social behaviour.”
Co-author Dr Jonathan Jong, from the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Oxford, concluded “our main breakthrough came in knowing what to film and how to analyse the film later. Most measures of cooperation are pretty overt or direct, but we looked at the subtleties of how people moved during the cooperation task, and devised algorithms to analyse the data in order to obtain the results.”
Click here for more information on the journal PLOS ONE.
Images: Fans back the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium (top - courtesy of SANZAR) and the All Whites (below - courtesy of Populous).
4th December 2015 - TICKETDIRECT FOUNDER MATT DAVEY LEADS NEW HIGHLANDERS OWNERSHIP
23rd September 2015 - FORSYTH BARR STADIUM WELCOMES MORE THAN A MILLION EVENT PATRONS
18th November 2014 - ANZ STADIUM’S $350 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT PLAN TO REVITALISE FORMER OLYMPIC VENUE
2nd July 2014 - WORLD RENOWNED CROWD MANAGEMENT EXPERT TO ADDRESS SYDNEY SEMINAR
29th May 2014 - UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO RESEARCH SHOWS WAYS TO PREVENT DROWNING DEATHS
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
Pico Play is a global leader in the planning, design, development and construction of world-class themed attractions and entertainment that deliver extraordinary and memorable experiences to millions…
read moreHydrocare Pool Services Pty Ltd offer 30 years of experience in aquatic industry features, products and water treatment. Hydrocare Pools has undertaken water treatment for aquatic centres and…
read moreWith industry leading solutions in design and durability you can improve your facilities with our access control operations, payment systems and flexible personal locker storage solutions. Your…
read moreABOUT Again Faster is a Brisbane based, Australian owned supplier of strength and conditioning and functional fitness equipment. With nearly 10 years experience in the Australian market, we are…
read moreHIB Insurance Brokers - Experts in Leisure and Amusement Insurance With over 20 years specialising in the Amusement and Leisure industries, we have the experience to understand your operations and…
read moreWith its sleek good looks and easy-to-use yet powerful functionality, Envibe is the premium fitness club software for the Australasian leisure, recreation and fitness industry. We are the most…
read moreAt easyemployer we've come up with a software solution that manages one of your most important, and often most costly, business resources - your staff. We are helping 100s of clients to…
read moreGladstone Health & Leisure (Gladstone MRM Pty Ltd Australia) is a leading supplier of leisure management and fitness software and is endorsed by leading health and fitness professionals and…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!