Social interactions in urban public places: participative method and recruitment strategies

Clark, AJ; Holland, C; Peace, S; Katz, J

Abstract

This research focuses on the use of different public (and pseudo-public) spaces in urban
areas.1
It draws on a case study of a year-long research project in the town of Aylesbury in
southeast England, a market town with a population of around 69,000. The study set out
to examine how different people use public spaces and to analyse how social interactions
vary by age, gender or place. What it does not do, is reflect what is known about these
different groups’ use of other ‘spaces’, for example their own homes and other indoor
facilities. The findings were considered in terms of their relevance for emerging policy
agendas on shared and contested spaces, intergenerational relationships, safety and
security, and the management of public space.
The project is based on a mixed-methods approach, which involved discussion with a
wide range of stakeholders in the town, from local politicians and community leaders
to business owners and managers; street surveys with members of the public at a range
of observations sites; and non-participant observation at nine sites, undertaken by 46
members of the general public (aged 16-73 years) over a 12-month period (October 2004
to September 2005). The observations were carried out in three types of public spaces:
residential neighbourhoods, green open spaces and town centre spaces, which were
considered representative of the town’s public spaces as a whole. The observations were
carried out across the day from 7am to 1am. The research method was highly participatory,
with the observers also contributing to and informing the data analysis.

Citation

Clark, A., Holland, C., Peace, S., & Katz, J. (2007). Social interactions in urban public places: participative method and recruitment strategies

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2007
• Deposit Date: Jan 31, 2023
• Journal: Recruitment and Sampling: Qualitative Research with Older People