Extra: Questionnaire on personal experience of space

We conducted a survey to explore how people experience public space. This is still availableat this link and it is still accepting responses if there is interest.

Data were analyzed based on responses received before 2019-05-06. By this date a total of 37 responded but 2 responses were duplicates. Therefore analysis was based on 35 respondents, who are not only from Sweden but also from other countries such as Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. It is difficult to calculate an exact response rate because we could not exactly track views in all medias we used. As an example, on LinkedIn the survey was viewed 399 times and shared once indicating a response rate of 8.8%. But in fact it was lower as this was shared via other sources. Direct emails led to the highest response rate but also reduced the representativeness of the sample as these were closest to the researchers. The thought was that our contacts would share it further and by doing so the sample would become more representative. But our networks consist mainly of other academics which creates another sampling problem. With a larger budget this survey could be distributed via Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB.se) which selects a representative group of the general population of Sweden. However, this would still not solve the problem of representativeness as some people are more likely to respond.

Qualitative analysis

For each question, the respondent’s exact words were written down on separate sticky notes and the frequency was marked for each (i.e. codes). In a second step, words that were synonyms or had similar meanings were grouped together by moving around the sticky notes. Each new ‘cluster’ was given a name which we consider as the theme. Figure-2 provides a visual example of our analysis of the second survey question: Describe your favourite public space. What in particular do you like in this space?

Codes with frequencies

Regrouping according to themes

Phenomenological Analysis

Experience of space was further understood through analysis of three questions from the survey. Results were as follows:

What people consider as ‘public space’ in a city

This was understood through responses to the question ‘Describe your favourite public space. What in particular do you like in this space?’ and also the frequency question ‘How often do you visit public spaces?’

Theme	Frequency
Parks and nature	34
Waterfront	8
Personal perception	6
Landmarks	5
Public services (e.g: library)	4
Transport network	2

Frequency of using:
Daily = 11
2-4 days / week = 7
Once / week = 7
Less than once / week = 10

Perceptions revealed through responses:

• Viewing public space as some kind of destination one must go to in order to do something (i.e. landmark)
• Most attention to parks and nature areas but little mention of roads 
• Confusion over what is public also illustrated in frequency in that so many stated infrequent use of public space (less than once / week)

Situations that people use public spaces

Themes were collected using answers to the question ‘What do you use public spaces for?’

Theme	Frequency
Recovery & well-being (passive)	19
Social interactions	18
Recreation	11
Solitary interaction	10
Recovery & well-being (active)	5
Daily routine	5
Transport	4

also revealed through responses:

• Sample mainly used public space for recovery and social interactions
• Recovery uses are best associated with parks while solitary interactions (i.e. people watching) could occur in any lively city square 
• Little mention of transport and public services, which suggests that people may not consider a building like a library or a train station as a public space

Exclusion from the use of public space and groups most affected by this

Understanding of this came from analysis of the question ‘Have you ever felt excluded from using a public space in the way you want? Can you give an example (if you feel comfortable sharing)?’

Theme	Frequency
No (have not felt excluded)	15
Yes (no further description)	1
Safety & power	8
Self-image	5
Comfort	5
Cleanliness	4
Economic	1
Cultural	1

also revealed through responses:

• Almost half stated that they never felt excluded from using public spaces
• Many were concerned about perceived safety issues, especially in squares where only men gather
• Self-image was connected to being looked at, mainly mentioned by females. 
• Several respondents suggested the importance of comfort and cleanliness. People do not want to be in places that are dirty nor do they choose places that lack comfortable seating. The aspects of seating arrangements may be connected to whether they use the space alone or in a group.

Sensory processes that contribute to our experience and use of space (other than visual sense)

Sound = 29
Smell = 21
Proprioception = 18
Touch = 8
Visual/sight = 3
Cleanliness = 2
Feeling as a whole = 2
Nature = 1
Light = 1
Pollution = 1

further reveals through the responses:

• Sound is most important after visual sense, and this justifies on-site sound recordings
• Smell is difficult to quantify, but extreme smells can be noted in field notes
• Proprioception and touch are somewhat related and the high frequency of selection merits a further investigation on site

Demographics of survey participants

Age:
0-15 = 0
16-24 = 5
25-39 = 13
40-65 = 16
65+ = 1

Gender:
Female = 26
Male = 8
Prefer not to say = 1
Other = 0

Location:
Helsingborg = 10
Sweden = 5
Colombo = 4
Malmö = 4
Sri Lanka = 2
Bjuv, Canberra, England, Gothenburg, India, Melbourne, New Zealand, Perth, Richmond Hill (Toronto), Stockholm, Wellington = 1 from each place

further reveals:

• Age was primarily adults but few teens and seniors replied. Would be important to reach these groups in order to better understand themes such as self-image and safety
• Respondents mainly had the female gender This allows for connection of the themes of parks and nature and recovery as something of importances for females 
• Many respondents were from Helsingborg and Skåne which limits generalizability to public spaces in Sweden or elsewhere. But this also supports analysing public spaces in Helsingborg in more detail as respondents are most likely basing their answers on this city and the public spaces available in it.