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1. Closed-ended questionnaire surveys
a) interpret responses using measures of frequency including counts and percentages
b) interpret responses using measures of central tendency including mean, mode and median
How do we calculate the mean?
Sum of all the values in the data set divided by the number of values in the data set.
Advantage
It includes every value in the data set and no data is left out to show its central location.
Disadvantage
It is subjected to the influence of outliers, which can skew it, and thus not provide the central location. Example: The mean age of ten park users is 60.2 years old. This could indicate that the park is more popular amongst elderly. Upon careful examination, most of the park users are within the 25 - 40 age group. This means the average has been skewed by the largest age value, thus not providing the best central location.
How do we identify the median?
Middle value for a set of data that has been arranged in begins with the smallest value and ending with the largest value ascending order.
Advantage
It is less affected by outliers.
Disadvantage
However, it is not as sensitive as mean in showing the central location in a data set.
How do we identify the mode?
The mode is often referred to as the ‘most popular option’. It is the most frequent value in a data set
Advantage
Useful for categorical data like the different modes of transport (e.g. car is the most frequent mode of transport) and it is not affected by outliers.
Disadvantage
Not very useful for continuous data (e.g. temperature over the course of the day) because there may be two or more values that share the highest frequency.
2. Mental maps
a) analyse how well maps represent reality and how features and labels are drawn or added
b) examine how memories of experiences are represented on maps and described during semi-structured interviews
Features drawn at the centre captures attention, hence signaling that these features are of greater importance to the mapper, as compared with those drawn at the borders.
Take a look at the 2 mental maps 15-year-old John has drawn McDonald in the centre which suggests that it is an important place to him in the neighbourhood. This is in comparison to the mental map of Vanitha, a 58-year-old female. She had drawn the community club in the centre instead, suggesting that it could be a special place for her.
Scale
Comparing the scale of different map features within the map and with reality, for example the size of a school in comparison to other places, could provide insights about a mapper’s familiarity and activity within the space. On the other hand, blank spaces on maps could mean that the mapper is unfamiliar with the area or has not engaged in any activities there before.
Labelling
Labelled places indicate mappers’ familiarity with the environment under study and may be accompanied by annotations. The content and choice of words, positive or negative, used in labelling provide information on mappers’ knowledge and emotions of the places experienced.
Colors, Legend and Symbols
Memories of experiences can be represented spatially on maps using colours, the legend, and symbols.
Colours used in maps can differentiate places and convey emotions, like red representing anger.
Symbols like hearts and stars also convey personal experiences or information of places, such as a favorite or an important location to the mapper.
Some mental maps may include a legend which elaborates the symbols that the mapper used.
Perspective and orientation
Mental maps present different perspectives, with some showing an aerial view and others showing a street view. An aerial view captures a large area with lesser details; whereas a street view captures a small area with greater details. This could suggest the mapper’s familiarity with the area.
How places are positioned or oriented in relation to the surroundings also reveal the mapper’s subjective experience. For example, a place that is important to the mapper could be depicted as closer on the map to their home.
Additional features, like paths, nodes, or intersections, may be added onto mental maps to show the mapper’s personal experiences of the places, such as the daily routes they take.
Look at the mental maps of Singapore drawn by two respondents on how they feel global warming will impact on Singapore.
Can you spot the differences between the two mental maps?
Map B shows more impacts of global warming. It shows the impact of sea level rising resulting in flooding of the low-lying coastal areas, more extreme weather in the form of more frequent and intense rain resulting in the urbanised areas such as Orchard Road as well as increased spread of insect-borne disease such as dengue.
Map A shows inaccurate information of global warming on Singapore. As Singapore water is relatively sheltered with narrow straits between the island and neighbouring countries, there is very low chance of storm surge affecting the west coast as shown in Map A. This is especially so as storm surge are formed by tropical cyclones which Singapore is unlikely to experience due to its location near the equator which has weak Coriolis effect.
Map B has more places in Singapore labelled more accurately. For example, Sentosa was drawn at which Jurong islands are in Map A.
The outline map of Singapore of Map B is more accurate than Map A.
Why do you think the mental maps are different?
The person drawing Map B have a better knowledge of the impacts of global warming on Singapore.
The person drawing Map B is very familiar with the map of Singapore and could remember it well.
3. Patterns and relationships
a) visualise positive and negative correlations using scatter plots and best-fit lines
b) identify recognisable geometric shapes, clusters and repetitions
Scatter Graph
There is a positive correlation between the two variables as shown by the upward sloping best fit line.
This means the number of ice cream sales increases with higher average temperatures.
A negative correlation exists between two variables if a downward sloping best-fit line is drawn through most of the data on the scatterplot.
It is possible to find one or a few has values that are not extreme, but do not fit the overall relationship known as outliers that do not fit the pattern of the scatterplots as shown below.
It is important to examine the causes of outliers and determine if they should be included in the data analysis.
Repetitions, clusters, geometric shapes or drawn features found in a mental map may indicate popularity and prominence of the places, while the absence could indicate unfamiliarity and the lack of interaction within the space.
In order to understand the reasons why some spaces are prominent and others are absent or ignored, a semi-structured interview is often conducted thereafter.
We can also compare actual maps with participants’ mental maps to analyse the differences or inaccuracies portrayed.
For example, drawn map features can appear as distortions, mis-labellings and mis-locations. They are key in understanding the factors that influence participants’ perceived space.
Further verification can be made with participants through open-ended questions asked during the semi-structured interview.
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