Other Data Collection Methods: Pedestrian Counts, Land Use and Questionnaires

🚶 Other Data Collection Methods: Pedestrian Counts, Land Use and Questionnaires

Pedestrian Count

A pedestrian count records how many people walk past a fixed point within a set time period — usually 5 minutes. It is a simple, reliable, and genuinely quantitative method (unlike the EQS, there is no judgement involved — you either count a person or you do not). Pedestrian counts test hypotheses about footfall, sphere of influence, and the relative busyness of different zones.

How to conduct it properly:

• Choose a fixed counting position at each site (e.g., stand at the kerb edge, facing the road).
• Count every person who passes in both directions within 5 minutes.
• Repeat 3 times at each site, then calculate the mean of the three counts.
• Conduct all sites at the same time of day — pedestrian flow varies enormously between morning rush hour, lunchtime, and mid-afternoon. If you count Site 1 at 9am and Site 6 at 12pm, the difference in counts may reflect time of day rather than location.

Limitations:

• Time-of-day variation: Even if all sites are surveyed at the same time, that time of day may not represent typical patterns. A 10am count on a Tuesday misses commuters and weekend shoppers.
• Weather effects: Rain significantly reduces pedestrian counts in all zones. If weather changed between surveying different sites, results are not directly comparable.
• Special events: A market, festival, or roadworks near one site will distort the count for that site.
• Repeat surveys: Counting on a single day gives a snapshot, not an average. Ideally, repeat the survey on different days of the week and average the results.

Land Use Survey

A land use survey records the use of every building along the transect — or in a sample area around each site. Buildings are categorised as: retail, office/commercial, residential, industrial/warehouse, vacant/derelict, leisure/hospitality, or other. The results are recorded on a base map and can be presented as a proportional bar chart for each zone, showing how the mix of land uses changes with distance from the CBD.

How to conduct it:

• Use a pre-printed categorisation sheet with a colour code for each land use type.
• Record the ground-floor use of every building in a 50m stretch around each site.
• Note whether ground floor and upper floors differ (e.g., a shop on the ground floor with flats above — this is mixed use, common in the CBD).

Key prediction from Burgess's model: Retail and commercial land use should be highest in the CBD (Zone 1) and decrease with distance. Residential land use should be lowest in the CBD and increase toward the outer suburbs.

Limitations:

• The ground floor does not always represent the building's primary use (e.g., a bank occupying the ground floor of a 12-storey office block).
• Categorisation can be ambiguous — is a nail salon retail or personal service?
• The survey captures a snapshot; land uses change over time (vacant units may have been recently occupied).

Questionnaire / Interview

A questionnaire gathers data about people's perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of an area. This produces qualitative data (open questions: "What do you like most about this area?") and/or quantitative data (closed questions with Likert scales: "Rate this area for cleanliness, where 1 = very dirty and 5 = very clean").

How to conduct it:

• Prepare your questionnaire in advance — do not ask questions on the spot.
• Use a mix of closed and open questions (typically 6–10 questions in total).
• Use random sampling: approach every 5th person who passes, regardless of who they are. This avoids cherry-picking approachable-looking people, which would bias your sample toward certain demographics.
• Aim for a minimum of 20 responses per site. 50+ is better for statistical significance.
• Note the time of day and day of week on every questionnaire — this helps you identify temporal bias when analysing results.

Ethical considerations (essential knowledge):

• Always introduce yourself and explain the purpose of the research before asking questions.
• Participants have the right to refuse — never pressure anyone to respond.
• Do not record names. Keep responses anonymous.
• Do not photograph respondents without explicit consent.
• Store data securely; use it only for the stated purpose.

Limitations:

• Social desirability bias: People may give the answer they think the researcher wants, or the answer that makes them look good, rather than their true view.
• Temporal bias: A weekday morning survey over-represents retired people and carers; a Saturday survey over-represents shoppers. Neither group is representative of all users of the space.
• Response rate: Many people refuse to stop. The sample of people willing to be questioned may not represent the wider population.
• Question wording: Leading questions ("Don't you think this area is unsafe?") influence responses. Questions must be neutral and unambiguous.