in progress...
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH
I find it very helpful that Sommer described in his writing, “A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research”, the different methods and techniques of mapping. In particularly, I find myself more interested with the behavior map method. Because I like to observe what people are doing and see them moving around, I prefer creating maps using techniques such as of place-centered maps and individuals-centered maps, and riding reports of the behaviors I observed. I also like to make questionnaires and have a closer and personal contact with my observers. However, I find cognitive map also very helpful depending on the occasion and the type of research I am conducting. I understand I can also have a closer contact with people doing this kind of research, but this kind of research is more for experimental purpose as I understand. Therefore I like to see what happens naturally, and just observe what people do and go by their own means.
To be continue…
OBSERVING ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR, CH. 9
I agree with Zeisel when he says that environmental behavior is important to study because it helps designers to make better decisions when designing open spaces. A lot of people have their own natural instinct to observe and make an assumption about someone's else behavior, but I also agreed with Zeisel that not everyone knows or have the proper training to understand certain behavior within an open space. Most people don’t know how to apply the information that they see it to a design concept.
The part of the chapter 9 of Zeisel that I find it very helpful for me in reading it was when he begin to talked about the environmental elements that researchers must pay attention when making environmental behavior observations.
Who is Actor
Doing what Act
With whom? Significant Others
In what relationship, Relationships
Aural, visual, tactile
Olfactory, symbolic
In what context, Sociocultural Context
Situation
culture
And where? Physical Setting
Props
Spatial relations
These methods I found it to be very valuable to me as a designer.
The example of the Post Office's exterior of the parking lot design was very clear to me how a space can reflect someone's behavior and reaction towards an environment.
PEARLS BEFORE BREAKFAST :
"What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare."
- from "Leisure," by W.H.Davies
What I find it fascinating in the “Pearls Before Breakfast” article is how the people passing by at the station treated the situation without giving any attention to the musician. Not even an acknowledgement! People are constantly busy and going off and about on a rush to meet their daily tasks.
I find human behavior a quite interesting thing to observe! We humans have our qualities of course, but I also think that we are very selfish creatures by nature. Because of our nature, in my opinion, it is natural that humans – in situations such as the one told in Pearls Before Breakfast - will have the results it did. People only give time for their own affairs. No one is interested to know about what is the other person doing. They just don’t want to be bothered and wants to be leaved alone, unless there is a common interest to us that we will them stop to observe and engage into a situation.
This behavior is much more common among strangers. I take these assumptions through my own experiences to what I see it happens at my own social environment. But I ask this question:
If the musician was playing in the middle of the station lobby as opposed of been far back against the wall, would he get more people attention? Would he make people mad, because he was now in their way and blocking the busy traffic?
I notice no one gave him any attention, positive or negative for a long time. Only a few had stopped to see what he was doing. Would he get more people to stop and look to what he was doing if he was standing right in front of the escalators facing people straight at their faces? Would people stop then because now something is happening in front of them that force to redirect their path? Would people be more on an alert and aware of the musician if so?
I believe that by the musician been standing far off by the wall, he is given a message to the crown that he is there to perform and to just do what he likes to do, but not necessary to cause a major attention. Like any other street performer, I have seen them standing at a corner and play their music. Some people will approach them (if there is a common interest), and soon they will be off again, but most of us will just look and continue walking. Sometimes not even look!
In my own feeling, I sense that humans by nature take ownership of a space in a landscape to do what they feel like to do and because we are all the same, we tend not to cross each other’s boundaries, even on the street setting. That is why I believe, viewers will look to what is happening around them, but very seldom will engage or trespass someone else’s privacy and their freedom to do what they want in public, as long it does not disturb the privacy and safety of others. Some people are more social than others and will find it easy to engage a conversation. Usually these people have an easy personality and will share more common interest with street performers.
THE CITY AT EYE LEVEL, CHAPTER 4:
"Good Cities for Bicycling"
Because I too have a seasonal interest for bicycling I find this session of the chapter "the city at the eye level" very compelled. I love biking in the city, and especially in Boston because everything becomes closer when I bike and I usually can get to places within 20-30 minutes around the city.
I was intrigued and amazed to know how bicycling behavior in the city of Copenhagen has taken a major part on the daily traffic habits of its urban residents. Bicycling has become a common interest for most major urban cities in the US, and is the new way to achieve sustainability in the infrastructure. I like how in Copenhagen city bicycling has taken over 37% of the overall transportation methods. I like the way gives priority to the bikers and how it is demanding the safety of bike users. How bicycling has even impact street parking in the city. As the article says, cars are not allowed to park less than 3 feet near a corner so it does not block the visibility of traffic, thus enhancing the safety of bicyclists in the city.
In Boston and most US cities, this would be impossible. We would need to change a traffic light system and parking system. We would also have to banned the right of cars turning right at the red line intersection.
The following images were taken from the city of Copenhagen found on the web:
In the image above, cars are kept far away from street corners and intersections, thus creating great visibility for bikers.
In the image above, it shows a two way bike lane been shared with buses.
In the image above, it shows how people in Copenhagen use bikes as a way of transport to and from work. "Good Cities for Meeting"
The principal of a good city for meeting that I learned in this chapter are categorized by three elements:
Seeing, Hearing and Talking!
I learned that a good prerequisite for a good communication between people and space in a city are set in various combination of opportunities to see, hear and talk.
I understand that views have to be highly considerate for the landscape of an urban city, But how can this be accomplished? The chapter explains that many cities have unsuccessfully done this by allowing parked cars, buses, poorly located buildings to obstruct view. Being able to hear and talk are important qualities in and urban public space.
But how really can we determine how more or less of hearing and talking makes a good space?
The book talks about Venice as a successful example of a well planned city. It tells us how possible it is for people to "speak quietly and pleasantly with others but at the same time you can hear footsteps, laughter, snatches of conversation, singing from open windows and many other sounds of life in the city." The City at Eye Level, pg. 152
I find it very true that furniture in the landscape can be a crucial factor in making a conversation difficult or pleasant. The way seating benches are design and installed makes a huge difference to the quality of a space.
"Good Cities for Staying"
The topic discussion for staying basically is categorized by two main activities that happens in the city space: moving activities and stationary activities. Pretty much everywhere in the city, we see people walking, standing and sitting anywhere there is a place for them to do so. The topic "Good Cities for Staying, talks about how some times walking in a city can represent a positive or negative thing about the city.
Cities that often have many people walking, as the book says; it can be an indication of "insufficient transit options or long distances between the various functions in the city." The City at Eye Level, pg. 134
The reading explains the definition of standing as a typically short-term activity. Studies have concluded that people often have limitations to how long they can stand comfortably under minimum quality requirements. The reading goes on talking about how edges are crucial for cities thus providing a number of important benefits. To my understanding, edges can provide a physiological support for an individual when standing. With a wall at his back, he/she can watch everything that is going on in front of him and still have his back cover avoiding surprises from behind, thus city space without edges are considerate unsuccessful and low comfort level.
Good element for a successful city is quite simply:
"good cities for staying have rough facades and good support points. In contrast, cities without edges or with smooth building facades devoid detail have little to offer in terms of staying psychology." The author clearly states on the reading that the longer the envisage stay, the more carefully the individual will choose the place to sit.
Cities that also offers good seating areas are very successful. Sitting areas needs to be near attractive views. The book also talks about the primary and secondary seating, that are categorize as such:
"Primary Seating"
It consists of actual furniture with back and arms: city benches, freestanding chairs and cafe chairs.
"Secondary Seating"
They are a great variety of objects: pedestals, steps, stones, bollards, monuments, fountains or the city floor itself.
I was amazed to learn how people relates to movable chairs in previous studies made around the globe, which the behavior of people in public squares and plazas have been documented. What is that draw people to automatically move a chair even if only a few inches from where it is? Is this behavior normal or is that a compulsive disorder? However the answer is, movable chairs are very successful among many parks in urban cities. I guess because urban cities are crowned and although people attracts people, humans don't like to seat too close of another human being. To closeness can cause discomfort!!! Interesting!
"Good Cities for Walking"
In this topic, the author talks about some of the walking elements that makes a walk within a city safer, enjoyable and efficient. He starts with the statement "walking with a purpose", which he explains in his writing that people in a city do walk for different reasons.
The walking purpose variations are: "the quick goal-oriented walk from A to B, the slow stroll to enjoy city life or a sunset, children;s zing-zag-ging, and senior citizen's determined walk to get fresh air and exercise or do an errand."
The author discussed in the reading issues that relates to how fast should a walk be from one distance to another? how long it should be? how much of room should a sidewalk have? The topic goes on giving examples of how narrow sidewalks affect big urban cities around the globe and how difficult and unsafe its when host large crowds.
The author explains that sidewalks should have enough space for walking and that no obstructions should interfere. Cars and motorcycles needs to keep a reasonable distance from pedestrians activities. However, when it comes to crossing intersections, pedestrians do not have the right to cross a street but rather something pedestrians have to apply for by pushing a button before crossing.
Walks within a city should be also interesting and pleasant for pedestrians. The author also talks about how the comfort of a walk can be determined by the quality and length of the pavement. Usually, straight paths tends to be more exhausting to walk than a curved path. That is because curved paths many times offers interesting views and pedestrians forget the distance and enjoy experiences as they happen.
(below left: Cartagena, Colombia),(below right: Orestad, Conpehagen)
Underpasses and bridges are something that pedestrians also tends to avoid. People don't like to go up and down stairs because it takes a lot of energy to do so. As the article itself says; "today the world is full of abandoned pedestrian underpasses and bridges." The City at Eye Level, pg. 132
Lighting is an issue that designers also have faced when designing sidewalks and is a crucial element for a sidewalk to be successful and safe.
"Lighting is crucial one night falls. Good lighting om people and faces and reasonable lighting for facades, niches and corners is needed along the most important pedestrian routes to strengthen the real and the experienced sense of security, and sufficient light is needed on pavements, surface and steps so that pedestrians can maneuver safety." The City at Eye Level, pg. 133
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