Experience Journey Map: A New Experience Design Tool for Structuring Youth Activities

Authors

  • Gary D. Ellis Texas A&M University
  • Jingxian Jiang Texas A&M University
  • Darlene Locke Texas A&M University
  • Patti A. Freeman Brigham Young University
  • Kaylee Jorgensen Texas A&M University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2022.988

Keywords:

experience journey maps, structured experiences, experience design, engagement, immersion, absorption

Abstract

We introduce a new experience design tool, an experience journey map, to assist youth professionals in planning engagement, immersion, and absorption activities. Experience journey maps are based on customer journey maps, which are widely used in business service design. This new approach highlights strategies for engendering deep structured experiences during the activity. An experience journey map is a matrix of columns and rows. Columns represent the sequence of activity stages. Rows are experience-structuring strategies derived from the theory of structured experience. These strategies include service performance strategies, deep structured experience strategies, and engagement, immersion, and absorption strategies. We present a case study showing how the experience journey map can be used to plan impactful youth activities.

Author Biographies

Gary D. Ellis, Texas A&M University

Professor

Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences & AgriLife Research

Jingxian Jiang, Texas A&M University

Research Assistant Professor

Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences

Darlene Locke, Texas A&M University

Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist

AgriLife Extension

Patti A. Freeman, Brigham Young University

Professor

Department of Experience Design and Management

Kaylee Jorgensen, Texas A&M University

Graduate student

Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences

References

Arnold, M. (2018). From context to outcomes: A thriving model for 4-H youth development programs. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 6(1), 141-160.

Caldwell, L. L., Witt, P. A., & Baldwin, C. K. (2018). Intentional programming using logic models. In P. Witt and L. Caldwell (Eds.), Youth development principles and practices in out-of-school time settings (pp. 298k –320). Sagamore-Venture.

Duerden, M. D., & Gillard, A. (2011). An approach to theory-based youth programming. New Directions for Student Leadership, 2011(S1), 39–53.

Ellis, G. D., Freeman, P. A., Jamal, T., & Jiang, J. (2019). A theory of structured experience. Annals of Leisure Research, 22(1), 97-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2017.1312468

Ellis, G., Freeman, P., & Jiang, J. (2017). Creating experiences for study-abroad tourists. Journal of Tourism Insights, 8(1), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.9707/2328-0824.1072

Ellis, G. D., Freeman, P. A., Jiang, J., Stricklin, M., & Lacanienta, A. (2019). Measurement of deep structured experiences as a binary phenomenon. Annals of Leisure Research, 22(1), 119–126.

Ellis, G. D., Jiang, J., Freeman, P., Lacanienta, A., & Jamal, T. (2020). Leisure as immediate conscious experience: Foundations, evaluation, and extension of the Theory of Structured Experiences. Journal of Leisure Research. 51(5), 581-600.

Ellis, G. D., Jiang, J., Freeman, P. A., Lacanienta, A., & Ellis, E. J. (2020). In Situ engagement during structured leisure experiences: Conceptualization, measurement, and theory testing. Leisure Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2020.1713938

Ellis, G., Jiang, J., Lacanienta, A., & Carroll, M. (2019). Theme, co-creation, and quality of structured experiences at camp. Journal of Youth Development, 14 (1), 230–242. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2019.651

Ellis, G. D., Lacanienta, A., & Freeman, P. (2018). Reducing attrition from youth programs through structuring deep, valued, and impactful programs for youth. In P. Witt and L. Caldwell (Eds.), Youth development principles and practices in out-of-school time settings (pp. 351–387). Sagamore-Venture.

Ellis, G., Lacanienta, A., Freeman, P., & Hill, B. (2019). Evaluating theory of structured experience propositions: Effects of service quality and experience industry techniques on quality of immediate leisure experiences. Annals of Leisure Research, 22(5), 587-606. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2019.1568890

Ellis, G., Taggart, A., Martz, J., Lepley, T., & Jamal, T. (2016). Monitoring structured experiences during youth programs: Development of brief measures of perceived value and engagement. Journal of Youth Development, 11(3), 159–174. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2016.469

Escalas, J. E. (2004). Narrative processing: Building consumer connections to brands. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 14(1–2), 160–180.

Freytag, G. (1898). Technique of the drama (2nd ed.). Scott Foresman.

Kalbach, J. (2016). Mapping experiences: A guide to creating value through journeys, blueprints, and diagrams. O’Reilly Media.

Lacanienta, A. (2018). Testing select propositions about absorption from the theory of structured experience [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Texas A&M University.

Mahoney, J. L., Larson, R. W., Eccles, J. S., & Lord, H. (2005). Organized activities as development contexts for children and adolescents. In J. Mahoney, R. Larson, & J. Eccles (Eds.), Organized activities as contexts of development: Extracurricular activities, after-school and community programs (pp. 3–22). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Parasuraman, A., Zeithaml, V. A., & Berry, L. L. (1988). SERVQUAL: A multiple-item scale for measuring consumer perceptions of service quality. Journal of Retailing, 64(1), 12–20.

Propp, V. (1968). Morphology of the folk tale. University of Texas Press.

Rossman, J. R., & Duerden, M. D. (2019). Designing experiences. Columbia University Press.

Stickdorn, M., Hormess, M., Lawrence, A., & Schneider, J. (2018). This is service design doing: Applying service design thinking in the real world. O’Reilly Media.

Stricklin, M., & Ellis, G. (2018). Effects of experience structuring strategies on perceived value and subjective experience of event participants. International Journal of Event Management, 22(3), 353–365. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599518X15251972495591

Taggart, A. S., Ellis, G. D., Jiang, J., & Lacanienta, A. (2019). Using experience industry strategies to increase quality of youth program experiences. Journal of Youth Development, 14(4), 59–82. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2019.749

Weiss, C. H. (1972). Evaluation research: Methods for assessing program effectiveness. Prentice-Hall.

Witt, P., & Caldwell, L. (Eds.) (2018). Youth development principles and practices in out-of-school time settings. Sagamore-Venture.

Downloads

Published

2022-03-28

Issue

Section

Program & Practice Articles