{"id":{"repo_id":"salford","oai_identifier":"oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1337591"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/salford/oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1337591","repository":{"repo_id":"salford","name":"U. of Salford","base_url":"https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/oaiprovider"},"display":{"title":"Free swimming : impact on physical activity behaviour of a borough-wide population","abstract":"Introduction:Appropriate pricing strategies are believed to reduce economic barriers to physical activityand enhance population-level participation. Aim:This thesis aimed to investigate the influence of a change in pricing strategy for swimmingpool usage over a three year period (2008-2011). Method:A mixed methods approach was adopted incorporating secondary data analysis of a leisuremanagement database (Study 1); a questionnaire-survey for users and non-users of the FreeSwimming Initiative (FSI) (Study 2; «=529); and semi-structured interviews withmanagement associated with the FSI (Study 3; «=17); and scheme users and non-users (Study4; «=34). Results:Study 1 indicated a positive response to a change in pricing strategy (+15.1% change invisits), a significant finding against a national decline in swimming participation, although thenovelty of free swimming declined over time (-12.1%). There was an adverse reaction to themass FSI among the 65 and over (-19.2%) which concurred with the apparent user groupclashes documented in Studies 3 and 4. Based on the outcomes of Studies 2, 3 and 4 it seemedunlikely that new users were attracted to the FSI owing to the under resourced marketing ofthe service; the inconvenience of Borough pool closures; and the particular nature ofswimming which encompasses high barriers to participation such as proficiency and therequirement for a specialised facility. Studies 3 and 4 concluded that the impact of the FSI onthe legacy of swimming was uncertain, yet total visits were lower upon the reintroduction ofthe entry-fee (-5.4%) suggesting the FSI may have damaged previously established trends. Discussion/Conclusion:Findings suggest that entry-fee is a key element in the decision to exercise as there was apositive participation response to a change in pricing structure. Participation increases couldhave been maintained with the development of an appropriate swimming structure to enticenew swimmers and maintain the involvement of existing users.","abstract_html":"Introduction:Appropriate pricing strategies are believed to reduce economic barriers to physical activityand enhance population-level participation. Aim:This thesis aimed to investigate the influence of a change in pricing strategy for swimmingpool usage over a three year period (2008-2011). Method:A mixed methods approach was adopted incorporating secondary data analysis of a leisuremanagement database (Study 1); a questionnaire-survey for users and non-users of the FreeSwimming Initiative (FSI) (Study 2; «=529); and semi-structured interviews withmanagement associated with the FSI (Study 3; «=17); and scheme users and non-users (Study4; «=34). Results:Study 1 indicated a positive response to a change in pricing strategy (+15.1% change invisits), a significant finding against a national decline in swimming participation, although thenovelty of free swimming declined over time (-12.1%). There was an adverse reaction to themass FSI among the 65 and over (-19.2%) which concurred with the apparent user groupclashes documented in Studies 3 and 4. Based on the outcomes of Studies 2, 3 and 4 it seemedunlikely that new users were attracted to the FSI owing to the under resourced marketing ofthe service; the inconvenience of Borough pool closures; and the particular nature ofswimming which encompasses high barriers to participation such as proficiency and therequirement for a specialised facility. Studies 3 and 4 concluded that the impact of the FSI onthe legacy of swimming was uncertain, yet total visits were lower upon the reintroduction ofthe entry-fee (-5.4%) suggesting the FSI may have damaged previously established trends. Discussion/Conclusion:Findings suggest that entry-fee is a key element in the decision to exercise as there was apositive participation response to a change in pricing structure. Participation increases couldhave been maintained with the development of an appropriate swimming structure to enticenew swimmers and maintain the involvement of existing users.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Allen, R"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":"Master's Level (Level 7)","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012","date_published":"2012","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:26:12Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1337591"],"render_values":[{"text":"oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1337591","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":null,"outbound_label":null,"outbound_source":null},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.sponsor","label":"Sponsor","values":["University of Salford"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Allen, R"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2012-03-01"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2012"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/output/1337591"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Master's Level (Level 7)"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1337591"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/file/1337591/1/R.%20Allen%20-%202012.pdf"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Introduction:Appropriate pricing strategies are believed to reduce economic barriers to physical activityand enhance population-level participation. Aim:This thesis aimed to investigate the influence of a change in pricing strategy for swimmingpool usage over a three year period (2008-2011). Method:A mixed methods approach was adopted incorporating secondary data analysis of a leisuremanagement database (Study 1); a questionnaire-survey for users and non-users of the FreeSwimming Initiative (FSI) (Study 2; «=529); and semi-structured interviews withmanagement associated with the FSI (Study 3; «=17); and scheme users and non-users (Study4; «=34). Results:Study 1 indicated a positive response to a change in pricing strategy (+15.1% change invisits), a significant finding against a national decline in swimming participation, although thenovelty of free swimming declined over time (-12.1%). There was an adverse reaction to themass FSI among the 65 and over (-19.2%) which concurred with the apparent user groupclashes documented in Studies 3 and 4. Based on the outcomes of Studies 2, 3 and 4 it seemedunlikely that new users were attracted to the FSI owing to the under resourced marketing ofthe service; the inconvenience of Borough pool closures; and the particular nature ofswimming which encompasses high barriers to participation such as proficiency and therequirement for a specialised facility. Studies 3 and 4 concluded that the impact of the FSI onthe legacy of swimming was uncertain, yet total visits were lower upon the reintroduction ofthe entry-fee (-5.4%) suggesting the FSI may have damaged previously established trends. Discussion/Conclusion:Findings suggest that entry-fee is a key element in the decision to exercise as there was apositive participation response to a change in pricing structure. Participation increases couldhave been maintained with the development of an appropriate swimming structure to enticenew swimmers and maintain the involvement of existing users."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Free swimming : impact on physical activity behaviour of a borough-wide population"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.sponsor":["University of Salford"],"dc:creator":["Allen, R"],"dc:date":["2012-03-01"],"dc:date.issued":["2012"],"dc:description.abstract":["Introduction:Appropriate pricing strategies are believed to reduce economic barriers to physical activityand enhance population-level participation. Aim:This thesis aimed to investigate the influence of a change in pricing strategy for swimmingpool usage over a three year period (2008-2011). Method:A mixed methods approach was adopted incorporating secondary data analysis of a leisuremanagement database (Study 1); a questionnaire-survey for users and non-users of the FreeSwimming Initiative (FSI) (Study 2; «=529); and semi-structured interviews withmanagement associated with the FSI (Study 3; «=17); and scheme users and non-users (Study4; «=34). Results:Study 1 indicated a positive response to a change in pricing strategy (+15.1% change invisits), a significant finding against a national decline in swimming participation, although thenovelty of free swimming declined over time (-12.1%). There was an adverse reaction to themass FSI among the 65 and over (-19.2%) which concurred with the apparent user groupclashes documented in Studies 3 and 4. Based on the outcomes of Studies 2, 3 and 4 it seemedunlikely that new users were attracted to the FSI owing to the under resourced marketing ofthe service; the inconvenience of Borough pool closures; and the particular nature ofswimming which encompasses high barriers to participation such as proficiency and therequirement for a specialised facility. Studies 3 and 4 concluded that the impact of the FSI onthe legacy of swimming was uncertain, yet total visits were lower upon the reintroduction ofthe entry-fee (-5.4%) suggesting the FSI may have damaged previously established trends. Discussion/Conclusion:Findings suggest that entry-fee is a key element in the decision to exercise as there was apositive participation response to a change in pricing structure. Participation increases couldhave been maintained with the development of an appropriate swimming structure to enticenew swimmers and maintain the involvement of existing users."],"dc:identifier":["oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1337591"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/file/1337591/1/R.%20Allen%20-%202012.pdf"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby":["https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/output/1337591"],"dc:title":["Free swimming : impact on physical activity behaviour of a borough-wide population"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Master's Level (Level 7)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:26:12Z"}