Data methodologies of contemporary urban planners: The role of questionnaire data within planning academia and practice
Dr Meadhbh Maguire
MRTPI PhD MSc MA
(McGill University, Urban Planning)
Research Description
This thesis explores the role of survey data within planning, by examining how and why survey data are collected by academic and practicing planners, and exploring the weight that these data have within planners’ decision-making processes. Using bibliometric analysis of a self-compiled database of planning research articles, content analysis of a smaller sub-sample of planning research, quantitative analysis of Canadian municipal planners’ responses from a web-based survey, and qualitative analysis of interview data, I find that survey methods are heavily used within planning but are heavily influenced by the political contexts in which such data are sought.
Full Entry Title
Maguire, M. (2021) Data methodologies of contemporary urban planners: The role of questionnaire data within planning academia and practice. Ph.D. Thesis. McGill University. Available to view here.
The Judges Said...
The panel found this clearly written and accessible piece of research, on an important and topical subject, with clear and important contributions to planning practice and research, and to planning education. The panel was particularly impressed by the quality of its careful and insightful reflections on how data is used in planning research by both academics and practitioners, how they understand and deal with bias and error, and how this can shape policy in intended and unintended ways.
