Methods
Since our earliest beginnings in 2015, we have explored and developed various methods for gathering data and engaging the community in our research projects. These have been used in various combinations and have proven vital in gathering meaningful data.
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If you want to learn more about the creative methods used, click here!
Postcards
The postcards seem to mostly focus on choosing a striking image, as opposed to the favourite places which are chosen by each person based on their experiences and memories. It is interesting to note, however, that the postcards specifically addressed to a friend or relative seem to be more personalised, commenting on things like the traffic.
Monopoly
What if instead of assigning a cost to places, we ordered them by their emotional value? Using a similar layout to Monopoly, we asked people to colour, doodle, draw and write which buildings and places they think belong on a Nottingham Monopoly board, and more importantly where they should be placed according to their emotional value.
My Story of Nottingham
The purpose of this question is for us to develop an understanding of how people value different places in Nottingham. These favourite places can be easily compared with the responses to the question "If you were to send a postcard from Nottingham, what would it look like?". The favourite places are much more varied and personal.
Intangible Exploration
Intangible heritage is a relatively new topic for many people, and as such, not many people understand what we mean when we say 'intangible heritage'. Unlike the other questions and activities, the nature of Intangible Heritage means that most of the responses can't be assigned to physical places, instead, the responses are mostly about dialect and community spirit.
Co-Mapping
Co-Mapping is one of the biggest methods we have utilised in our research. It has been important for us to understand which drawings came out of each workshop, which has allowed us to analyse the types of responses.
Creative Questionnaires
Questionnaires are typically not the most engaging form of data collection, which is why, throughout our studies, we have been developing creative questionnaires which use images and graphics to be more visually appealing and invites people to draw for some questions. We have found that this leads to higher levels of engagement and allows people to represent ideas which may be difficult to put into words, especially if the study is not in their first language.
