Problem addressed
Today, it can be tough for local governments and stakeholders to address the needs of city residents and channel their voices into urban development. This is particularly true in smaller cities in the peripheral regions of the European Union. Our urban research, driven by social innovation, seeks to create a comprehensive approach that combines insights from urban studies and environmental psychology. This approach can help decision-makers create lasting policy solutions and empower local communities to use their resources.
Innovative solution
Our research involves several key steps: identifying the city's spatial and governing characteristics, analysing the municipality's socio-economic data from the central statistical office’s database, and conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses. The quantitative analysis includes sociodemographic and socioeconomic questions, assessing the settlement's connotative meaning, satisfaction scales to measure overall well-being, and evaluating the perceived attractiveness of certain urban characteristics, as well as exploring latent attitudes like place attachment and identity. The qualitative analysis involves semi-structured focus group interviews with local stakeholders to understand their ‘sensing’ of the city. Additionally, we'll observe people's behaviour in public spaces to better understand how they interact with the city.
Key results and benefits
We have employed our research methodology in Nyírbátor, a small city located in Eastern Hungary, which has undergone significant social and economic changes over the past 15 to 20 years. Our analysis reveals individuals' relationships with specific urban locations, providing valuable tools for examining the complex interactions between people and places, thereby enhancing the city's livability and responsiveness to future challenges. Furthermore, our approach can assist municipalities in effectively developing their urban strategies and policy documents, as it offers a framework to explain the intricate patterns that exist between the people and their settlement.
Potential for mainstreaming
This social innovation project seeks to address the needs of local authorities and public sector representatives, as both can benefit from the research methodology aimed at enhancing urban development projects. This new approach to urban analysis can also be valuable for private companies, providing reliable data to support the urban development projects they have planned and implemented. Additionally, residents can benefit from the positive impact of improved community spaces and more functional public buildings.
