Developing a Context-Sensitive Strategy for Assessing the Need for Skateboarding Spaces

The intern in this study will review relevant literature and interview employees of a skateboard architecture and design company to better understand how the company can improve their data collection process. To date, skateboard architecture and design companies have mainly used number-driven methods to explore potential skateboard locations, these methods include statistical surveys, reports and other number-driven methods, while little attention has been drawn to qualitative methods (i.e., interviews, observations). The intern/researcher will aim to develop a strategy and toolbox (of qualitative methods) for the skateboard architecture and design company to implement when exploring potential skateboard locations within a community. This project is significant as it will allow the company the ability to not only use and rely upon number-driven data but will also allow them the tools to explore how social, political, historical and environmental factors can be accounted for when exploring potential skateboard spaces.

Faculty Supervisor:

Brian Wilson

Student:

Partner:

van der Zalm + Associates

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other; Education; Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: