Exploring the Role of 'Visual Catalysts' on Influencing People's Attraction and Use of Place

DATA ANALYSIS PROCESS
For this <strong>the</strong>sis, <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> analysis will centre around <strong>the</strong> comparative examination <strong>of</strong> results
from three different stages <strong>of</strong> behaviour mapping <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> case study (that being before, during,
and after <strong>the</strong> installation). The analysis will primarily be a comparison <strong>of</strong> observed behaviours,
and will draw out in-depth patterns <strong>of</strong> people’s experience <strong>of</strong> place in relation to how <strong>the</strong>y use
a space when a ‘visual catalyst’ is active, and when it is not.
To go into detail, <strong>the</strong> analysis <strong>of</strong> results will involve <strong>the</strong> comparison <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> times <strong>of</strong> day, gender,
movement patterns, activity and behaviour patterns, amount <strong>of</strong> time spent in place, social
interactions and engagement with site conditions. These details will be analysed quantitatively
through <strong>the</strong> tallying <strong>of</strong> numbers, and a statistical comparison to allow for <strong>the</strong> observation
<strong>of</strong> whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> experience and behaviours observed in that place have changed and/or be
influenced. However, this, along with incremental notetaking during <strong>the</strong> stages <strong>of</strong> mapping,
will also provide <strong>the</strong> basis for a narrative to emerge. Likewise, <strong>the</strong> analysis <strong>of</strong> results will not
just involve <strong>the</strong> comparison <strong>of</strong> drawn maps, but also <strong>the</strong> comparison <strong>of</strong> written notes on
observations.
To structure this analysis, and to help determine important findings <strong>of</strong> value, <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong>
Creswell (2005) will help establish this through his six steps <strong>of</strong> data analysis. Those steps
include:
• Organising and preparing <strong>the</strong> data for analysis
• Reading through <strong>the</strong> data
• Beginning detailed analysis with <strong>the</strong> coding process (spreadsheet individual
sessions)
• Use <strong>the</strong> coding process to generate a description <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> setting or people as well
as categories for <strong>the</strong>se for analysis – linking significant data in relation to <strong>the</strong>
experience <strong>of</strong> place
• Advance <strong>the</strong> triangulation <strong>of</strong> data and present findings
• Interpret <strong>the</strong> meaning <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> data parallel to <strong>the</strong> literature
As such, from using Creswell’s (2005) method for analysis findings will provide <strong>the</strong> basis
to compare <strong>the</strong> key data obtained from <strong>the</strong> behaviour mapping sessions in relation to <strong>the</strong>
experience <strong>of</strong> place, and <strong>the</strong> attachment to place. Through observing <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>mes <strong>of</strong> behaviour,
such as <strong>the</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> engagement, form <strong>of</strong> activity and <strong>the</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> time spent doing an
activity, an understanding <strong>of</strong> whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> experience <strong>of</strong> place has been influenced can become
apparent as a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> creative placemaking intervention. Consequently, findings can <strong>the</strong>n
be established and presented.
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