Motivations and expectations in the planned visits to commercial public space post pandemic: A Grounded Theory approach

Abstract

While home-based digital leisure has developed rapidly, the need for out-of-home recreation is re-affirmed during the global pandemic. Commercial public space, one type of common leisure place, witnessed obvious recovery post-pandemic in China. To understand why people determine to go to commercial places for recreation when medical authorities advise self-isolation, we conducted an analysis of telephone interviews with 26 young people based on Grounded Theory to construct a theory centered on “altering daily experience,” with another four categories of condition, out-of-home recreation motives, commercial public space characteristics and constraints. Results indicate that the merits of commercial public space offer an easy choice to overcome constraints to alter daily experience, and to fulfill out-of-home recreation motives. Motives are generated from the living condition and external stimuli. The research reveals the necessity of out-of-home recreation and bolsters a renewed effort to support life in urban public space of quality and suitability.

Keywords:

• Commercial public space
• shopping center
• recreation need
• recreation attraction
• Grounded Theory

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful and constructive comments.

Ethical approval

This study complies with the ethics rules of Peking Univeristy. Informed consent was received prior to all participant participation. The study served as first author’s master thesis and pass the jury of Peking Univeristy’s master’s degree under the supervision of the professor. Peking Univeristy approved the ethics by awarding master’s degree certificates, the number of which is 1000132021003138.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).