Coding Manual for Adolescent-Nature Interactions at a Youth Group Home
Citation
Dunker, C. L., Gray, C. E., & Kahn Jr, P. H. (2025). Coding Manual for Adolescent-Nature Interactions at a Youth Group Home.
This manual explains the system researchers used to code how teens in a group home connect with nature to help them cope with stress and build resilience after going through tough experiences. A special method was used to carefully look at and sort their stories about meaningful moments in nature. Researchers interviewed 12 teens and found 1,212 examples of nature interactions. These were grouped into 62 different types, such as looking at nature from a new point of view, walking along the edges of natural areas, foraging or harvesting edibles to eat or drink, noticing patterns in nature (like seasons or time of day), or spending time in nature with others.
Abstract
This technical report provides our coding manual – our systematic method to code qualitative photovoice data – from a study of nature interactions supporting coping and resilience among adolescents with histories of trauma living in a youth group home. Using the interaction pattern method detailed in this coding manual, we coded interview data from 12 adolescents about their meaningful nature interactions. A total of 1212 (Level 1) IPs were coded in these data from the participant’s interviews and categorized into 62 Level 3 IPs such as viewing nature from a different vantage point, moving along the edges of nature, foraging or harvesting edibles to eat or drink, experiencing periodicity of nature, or experiencing nature with others.