VIRTUAL: Livable Cities – New York
Abstract
Cities concentrate human activity/human activity on many levels. Urban public spaces in cities worldwide offer numerous opportunities, attracting hundreds of users every day. In the daily rush, people use these spaces automatically as part of their daily routine. The obviousness of choosing specific spaces is only apparent. Several factors behind the facade of human habits shape people’s choice of space of activity. By trying to adopt the point of view of the individuals and understanding their perspective, it is possible to discover the non-obvious reasons for the automatisms of their spatial activities.
The research aimed to identify and evaluate the impact of the conditions of choosing the activity space on the example of city squares in Poznan. Two research methods were used during the study. First, in-depth interviews were conducted among ten users of city squares in Poznan. Qualitative analysis of the collected material using the CAQDAS software allowed to identify 11 factors influencing the choice of activity space. Then, the identified factors were assessed using a survey conducted using the CAWI technique, conducted among 384 inhabitants of Poznan. Based on the results author created a typology of identified factors divided into environmental, spatial, and psychological groups. Moreover, during the individual in-depth interviews, the dominant influence of the “sentiment filter” on the choice of activity spaces was identified. The research also revealed gender differences in the impact of the identified factors. Results will be presented in the context of the most popular concepts shaping urban space – walkability and 15-minute cities.
Ph.D. in social science (human geography), assistant professor at the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznan. He conducts behavioral research in human geography. His scientific interests focus on the social functioning of urban spaces, the relationship between man and the space of his activity, the perception of space, and human spatial behavior. He is also interested in contemporary factors shaping the socially generated image of the city, as well as changes in the physical structure of urban open public spaces. In his scientific work, he uses mainly qualitative research methods.