This study is focused on an experimental study that has been carried out by COPELABS in cooperation with CIS-IUL and with Escola EB2,3, Pedro D’Orey da Cunha. This is an interdisciplinary study developed in the context of the COPELABS Proxemics Data Lab project, FCT reference number UID/MULTI/04111/2016, and involved an interdisciplinary team composed of computer scientists, and social psychologists, the school, as well as 80-140 students (10 to 14 year old) from different classes. Aiming at analyzing social interaction patterns of children in regards to different aspects such as contact theory and well-being and spaces, this study contemplated an interdisciplinary methodology where data obtained via surveys has been crossed with data obtained via a non-intrusive publicly available software that senses roaming patterns, PerSense Mobile Light (PML). Specific aspects being analyzed are: I) inter-prejudice reduction based on contact between members of different groups; ii) clustering aspects and mobility patterns to better perceive aspects such as inter-personal interaction; iii) relation of mobility towards spaces and well-being.
Authors: Mauro Bianchi, Anna Pegna, Rute Carvalho Sofia, Igor dos Santos, Ana Loureiro, Joana Santos, Ricardo Rodrigues (IUL).