Solo Women Travelers Research Study

A University of Florida study of how solo women travelers use social media, mobile technology, and peer networks to find safe camping and workamping opportunities at U.S. public lands. Phase 1 screening is open.

University of Florida IRB-02, Protocol #ET00053383, approved April 24, 2026. Principal investigator: Jolene MacFadden, M.A. candidate, UF College of Journalism and Communications. Faculty mentor: Dr. Jinping Wang.

This study is separate from the Trail Testers program. Trail Testers are unpaid volunteers who try the Solo Sojourn Trail app and report what needs fixing; they are not study participants, and the program is not the Phase 2 beta test described below. To volunteer as a Trail Tester, see Trail Testers.

About the Study

The Solo Sojourn Project is a University of Florida research study examining how solo women travelers use social media, mobile technology, and peer networks to find safe camping and workamping opportunities at U.S. public lands. We are building a purpose-built mobile platform and want to understand what information solo women currently need and where the gaps are.

The study is conducted by Jolene MacFadden, M.A. Candidate at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, under the supervision of Faculty Mentor Dr. Jinping Wang.

Participation is entirely voluntary. You may stop at any time without consequence. Completing the screening survey does not obligate you to participate further and does not guarantee selection. No names or email addresses are collected inside the survey, and responses are stored securely on UF research servers.

How the Study Works

Step 1: Screening survey (open now)

Five to seven minutes, 12 questions. Eligibility: age 18 or older, identifies as a woman, U.S. resident, and has not previously used the Solo Sojourn app. Responses are reviewed for purposive sample selection, balancing travel type, age, and experience level. Selected participants are contacted by email within two weeks. Those not selected receive a thank-you message.

Step 2: Phase 1, Fall 2026

Your choice of a 90-minute Zoom group conversation or a 25 to 35 minute written survey. Participants who complete Phase 1 receive a $15 Amazon gift card, delivered on completion per UF IRB guidelines.

Step 3: Phase 2

All women who complete Phase 1 are eligible to be considered for Phase 2, a 30-day beta test of the Solo Sojourn app. Phase 2 participants receive an additional $25 Amazon gift card upon completing the post-test survey. Phase 2 details are sent to Phase 1 participants when it opens.

Take the Screening Survey

The screening survey is hosted on the University of Florida’s Qualtrics system and takes 5 to 7 minutes (12 questions). There is no compensation for the screening survey itself.

Start the Screening Survey

Questions: Jolene MacFadden, Student Principal Investigator, jolene.macfadden@ufl.edu. University of Florida IRB-02, irb02@ufl.edu, (352) 273-9600. IRB Protocol #ET00053383, approved April 24, 2026.

Common Questions

Do I need to be tech-savvy? If you can use a smartphone for texting, email, and photos, you can participate.

Do I have to be an RVer? No. Car campers, van dwellers, tent campers, and women who are still planning their first solo trip are all welcome.

Is this the same as the Trail Testers program? No. Trail Testers give unpaid, informal feedback on the app and anyone can join. The study is a formal research project with its own consent, selection, and compensation, and its Phase 2 beta test is part of the study, not the Trail Testers program. Doing one does not enroll you in the other.

What happens to the findings? Results are published in aggregate only, with no individual identified. Participants who opt in on the separate notification form will be told when findings are released.