RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.2 Process of Collecting Data .1 Data Collection
3.2.1.1 Observation
Direct observation was used to attain a knowledge of the physical characteristics of urban space, its users and the activities that occur in both public spaces used in the study. These variables were examined in order to analyse the human-environment interaction, guided by Rapoport’s (1977) basic questions. The first question (‘how do people and their characteristics shape their environment?’) was answered by exploring how Alun-alun and Simpang Lima were shaped. The second question (‘what are the characteristics of the physical environment and how is it important to the community?’ was answered by observing the physical condition of both public spaces, the people who used each space and the activities that took place there. The third question about the interaction mechanism in public space was answered by looking for the norms and regulations governing the relationship between human--users and activities, and environment--physical condition, in both public spaces. The objects of direct observation are listed in Table 3.1.
Table 3.1. Objects of Direct Observation
No Target object Purpose Methods
1 Physical characteristics of public space, including size, facilities, surrounding buildings and residences
To determine the physical characteristics of traditional and modern public spaces in Indonesia
Direct observation, photography, hand-held video recording, field notes, maps 2 The users of public space (number,
composition of the population, intensity, rights and conflict in public space especially for marginalised or vulnerable people
To describe the users of public space and to scrutinise rights and conflict in public space
Direct observation, photography, hand-held video recording, field notes
3 Daily and one-off activities in public space (type, scale, frequency and timing)
To describe how the space is used and determine the level of intensity of activities
Direct and participant observation,
photography, hand-held video recording Table by the author
In both public spaces, participant observation was used to gather information about the patterns of activity of users, and to gain an understanding of the real and contextual condition.
For this phase, the researcher acted as a passive observer, bystander, tourist, visitor and customer in both areas. As an observer and bystander, the researcher can observe and record the condition.
As a tourist, visitor or customer, the researcher can ‘talk the talk’ and ‘walk the walk’ (DeWalt &
DeWalt, 1998).
33 As a tourist, visitor, and customer, the researcher can gather information from interview partners in Alun-alun Yogyakarta such as toy11 service providers, food traders12, users13 of public space, and space managers14. In Simpang Lima Semarang, researcher met space users as interview partners. They are members of the batik community, endangered animal protection groups, skateboard group, saman dancers, and culinary visitors. In both areas, the researcher can obtain data about preference point, intensity and space usage time. In addition, as an observer, the researcher can find specific things related to the control of society towards the presence of outsiders. See Annex 2, 4, and 5.
The Table 3.2. describes participant observation.
Table 3.2. Participant Observation
Source of Evidences Procedure and objective Timing
Participant observation Real condition by observing real participant to cover actual events and to insightful into interpersonal behaviour and motivation.
On weekdays, weekend, time of events
Contextual observation of participants to discover the contextual events and gain insight into interpersonal behaviour and motivation.
At time of event
Table by the author
Direct and participant observation were carried out between 2014 and 2016 and surveys were undertaken twice, in July-August 2014 and December 2014-March 2015. The surveys were conducted with the support of visual recording devices such as cameras and camcorders. As part of the Project of Public Space, Whyte (1980) and Hampton, Goulet, & Albanesius (2015)used time-lapse photography to record the characteristics of users of public space, the time, their activities and their preference points in public spaces. Gehl (2015) 15 stated that seeing in observation process can enhance the researcher’s understanding of a site. The researcher can sketch the site, measure its dimensions, observe, ask the users (What are you doing? Where do you live? etc.), find a phenomenon of interest and interpret it.
The observation points were located in strategic areas, including field squares, surrounding streets and pedestrian areas. See Figure 3.2.
11 Such as bubble seller, ponny owner, and light car owner.
12 Such as wedang ronde seller, zuppa soup seller, and sego gurih seller.
13 Such as athletes, local children, visitors of events, and homeless.
14 Such as abdi dalem and employee of Yogyakarta Tourism Office.
15 PhD Workshop in TU Darmstadt on 26 November 2015. Gehl said that observation is different with interview process. In interview, we must construct the question, but we cannot hope the standard answer.
Figure 3.2. Observation Points in Alun-alun Yogyakarta and Simpang Lima Semarang Source: Author
The timing of observation is given in the Table 3.3.
Table 3.3. Timing of Observations
Type of activity Observation period Location
Weekday activity 06.00 am – 12.00 pm Squares and streets in Alun-alun Yogyakarta and Simpang Lima Semarang Weekend activity 06.00 am – 12.00 pm Squares and streets in Alun-alun
Yogyakarta and Simpang Lima Semarang Event Depending on the time of the
event
Squares and streets in Alun-alun Yogyakarta and Simpang Lima Semarang Table by the author based on surveys on July-August 2014 and December 2014-March 2015
Due to open access data and online media, the continuity of information and events, before and after survey times can still be monitored and verified. The events and activities recorded during the observation periods were as follows.
Table 3.4. Events and Activities Observed in Both Locations
Location Special Event Time of Survey
Alun-alun Yogyakarta
Simpang Lima Square Menteri Supeno Park Pahlawan Street Pandanaran Park North Alun-alun
South Kemandungan South Alun-alun Observation Point
35 North Alun-alun Sekaten in Alun-alun Yogyakarta (November
28th, 2014 to January 3rd, 2015)
December 24-28th, 2014
New Year 2015 January 1st, 2015
Program of revitalisation of North Alun-alun (from May 12th, 2014)
December 24-28th, 2014 The Great Meeting Pisowanan Agung Jogja
Gumregah
March 7th, 2015
Ogoh-ogoh parade March 20th, 2015
South Alun-alun Program of revitalisation of South Alun-alun December 28th, 2014
Bird race August 24th, 2014
Masangin on Saturday night August 23rd, 2014 Pedicab/light car on Saturday night August 23rd, 2014 South
Kemandungan
Mataram archery (Jemparingan) February 24th, 2015 Simpang Lima Semarang
Pancasila Square
Weekday activities August 22nd-30th, 2014
Independence Day ceremony August 17th, 2014
Central Javan Provincial Exhibition August 22nd, 2014
Development Carnival August 22nd, 2014
New Year 2016 December 30th, 2015 to January
1st, 2016
Car-free day on Sunday morning July 2014 to August 2014 and December 2014 to March 2015
Weekend night tourism August 23rd, 2014
Iedul Fitri prayer July 28th, 2014
Iedul Adha prayer October 5th, 2014
School sport June 1st, 2015
Menteri Supeno Park
Culinary in special day (Iedul Fitri) July 28th, 2014
Car-Free Day on Sunday Morning July 2014 to August 2014 and December 2014 to March 2015
Friday Market June 1st, 2015
Pandanaran Park
Community Social Gathering July 2014 to August 2014 and December 2014 to March 2015 Table by the author based on surveys on July-August 2014 and December 2014-March 2015
In order to support the observation process, this research also makes use of questioners in a specific area that is in Simpang Lima Square. This additional step is supplementary in order to return to Madanipour’s (1996, p. 64) statement on Design of Urban Space: an Inquiry into a Socio-Spatial Process that: ”The individual difference can be found in relation to ethnicity, age, gender, lifestyle, length of residence in an area and travel mode within the city, all affecting the way environment is perceived.” Because the community of Simpang Lima Square is more heterogeneous than that of Alun-alun Yogyakarta, further observations in this location were determined to be necessary.
The questionnaire process was conducted for one week--weekdays and weekends--from August 22th-29th, 2014. The questions were about users’ information, their activities, time and intensity of such activities, arrival pattern and preference point. Also asked, was the user's perception of the function, condition, and recommendation of Simpang Lima design, related to urban equity. Based on the results of the questionnaire distribution, it was found that male users
dominated the weekdays (72.9%), then women (43.7%) and children (26.9%) dominated the weekend. During events, the composition of men, women, and children was almost equal. Each group amounted to 42.3%, 40.4%, and 15.4%, respectively. For more details see Annex 7 and 9.