Ever Diminishing Circles

February 2, 2009 5:41 PM

What was the study done that showed how subsequent generations of children were exploring smaller and smaller areas?

I think it might have been an British study? It asked a few generations of people about where they explored and played as children. The result of the study showed that each generation effectively had a smaller and smaller range.

posted by ian1977 to society & culture (5 comments total)

This one?
posted by jamaro at 5:52 PM on February 2 [5 favorites]

I know exactly what you're talking about and I cannot find it anywhere now. I'm pretty sure it was featured in nytimes.com and it interviewed parents and grandparents and had a map that showed the circumference explored (the house being in the center and lines showed how far from the house the children went, the parents went as children, the grandparents as children).

I'll keep looking because this is going to bug me all night now.
posted by ttyn at 5:54 PM on February 2

That's the one I was thinking about, jamaro.
posted by ttyn at 5:55 PM on February 2

Title of the report is Natural Thinking: Investigating the Links Between the Natural Environment, Biodiversity and Mental Health by Dr William Bird. [PDF].
posted by jamaro at 5:59 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]

Bingo jamaro!

Thanks!

I actually found it right after submitting this question by substituting 'radius' for 'area' in my google search. Amazing what one word can do.
posted by ian1977 at 6:33 PM on February 2