Environmental context is important for engaged podcast listening: Research

By Pod mirror

Jan 9, 2023

Five factors of environmental context matter: outdoors, indoors & at home, evenings, soundscape & at work, and exercise. (York Uni.& BBC R&D)

Research aim

The study aimed at investigating how different factors of environmental context might relate to listeners' attentional engagement when consuming podcasts using their smartphones 

3 Hypothesis

Environmental context influences listeners' attentional engagement. There are positive correlations amongst the aspects of podcast listening engagement and finally, there exists a positive correlation amongst environmental context factor scores and listening engagement  

Outdoors

...in light conditions

...in cold conditions

...in warm condition

...in dark conditions

2%   46%   30%

3%   44%    26%

2%   44%    29%

7%    34%   21%

Strongly disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

**AudioLab, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York, United Kingdom **BBC Research and Development, London, United Kingdom **Total respondents : 264 

Indoors & at home

...in warm conditions

...in light conditions

...at home

...in cold conditions

1%   49%   32%

1%   51%    30%

1%   40%    45%

1%    45%   19%

Strongly disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

**AudioLab, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York, United Kingdom **BBC Research and Development, London, United Kingdom **Total respondents : 264

...in dark conditions

2%    42%   30%

evenings 

..weekend days, late evenings

..weekdays, late evenings

..weekend days, early evenings

..weekdys , early evenings

6%   32%   25%

4%   37%    25%

3%   42%   28%

1%    49%   29%

Strongly disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

**AudioLab, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York, United Kingdom **BBC Research and Development, London, United Kingdom **Total respondents 264

Late evenings  (9pm to 11:59 pm)

Early evenings  (9pm to 10pm)

Soundscapes & At work

...high background noise

...moderate background noise

...among mechanical sounds

..sounds of humans

11%   23%  7%

1%   60%    18%

11%   38%   13%

8%    31%   12%

Strongly disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

**AudioLab, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York, United Kingdom **BBC Research and Development, London, United Kingdom **Total respondents : 264

activities most often engaged in while consuming podcasts

**AudioLab, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York, United Kingdom **BBC Research and Development, London, United Kingdom **Total respondents : 264

Doing housework

Childcare

Driving

Walking

Working

31.53%

50%

36.67%

40.74%

42.86%

Showering/bathing

25%

Commuting

25%

Exercising

34.97%

How does one listen to podcasts

71% headphones, just 29% speakers 

How they find new podcasts 

71% of people discover podcasts by talking to their friends and family; 69% from listening to other podcasts; and 49% from internet searches , just 29% speakers 

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