TUA advised on the development of a survey for the University of Auckland, to help understand how people use their town centres.
The Challenge
The research team wanted to develop a survey they could roll out in town centres across regional New Zealand to understand how people use and experience these vital community hubs. The challenge lay in creating a survey instrument that was both comprehensive enough to capture the nuances of town centre usage and wellbeing, while also being practical and adaptable for deployment in diverse regional contexts. The team needed expert guidance to ensure the survey questions were well-structured, relevant, and capable of generating meaningful data to inform future town centre development and revitalisation efforts.
The Solution
TUA provided input on survey design, question formulation, and methodology, drawing on extensive experience in urban research and community engagement. UA's guidance helped the research team create a robust and effective survey tool that could be successfully deployed across regional New Zealand, enabling them to gather valuable data on how people interact with and perceive their town centres.
The Journey
Worked closely with the research team to refine the survey's objectives, TUA identified key areas of inquiry related to town centre usage, accessibility, social interaction, and overall wellbeing, and ensure the questions were clear, unbiased, and easy for respondents to understand.
TUA's focus on the potential impact of the research meant the University team was able to design a survey that would not only gather data, but also generate findings that could directly inform evidence-based strategies for enhancing town centre wellbeing and creating more vibrant and liveable communities.
