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

Clark, AJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8660-8815, Holland, C, Peace, S and Katz, J 2007, 'Social interactions in urban public places: participative method and recruitment strategies' , Recruitment and Sampling: Qualitative Research with Older People .

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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.

Item Type:	Article
Schools:	Schools > School of Health and Society
Journal or Publication Title:	Recruitment and Sampling: Qualitative Research with Older People
Publisher:	Centre for Policy on Ageing / The Open University
Funders:	Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Depositing User:	AJ Clark
Date Deposited:	31 Jan 2023 09:21
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2023 09:21
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/66272

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