Changing public space

Figure 5.7 Permanent stage on the Grote Markt
interpreting the diagrams. Since the dimensions are specified on an ordinal scale, a precise
comparison of their values is precluded. This applies to comparison of the dimensions and across
the diagrams of individual research objects.
5.5 Conclusions
This chapter has outlined the methods and sources of information that are applied in the
empirical part of the thesis. We have conducted case-study research to investigate the
redevelopment of public spaces in the Netherlands. The cases are four city centres; in each one,
a cluster of two squares is explored. These research objects include the Schouwburgplein and
Beurstraverse in Rotterdam, the Grote Markt and Statenplein in Dordrecht, the Oude Markt and
Van Heekplein in Enschede, and the Markt and Loeffplein in ’s-Hertogenbosch. The procedure by
which these cases were selected has been outlined in Section 5.2. Case-study research is usually
based on in-depth interviews, focus group meetings, (participant) observation, and the analysis
of secondary data. These methods were also used in this research (Section 5.3). Lastly, a new
analytical tool has been described in Section 5.4. This tool enables the visualisation of the extent
to which public spaces can be classified as secured or themed. It is applied to the eight research
objects in Chapter 7.
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