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Environment Behavior Methods for Design (ABPL90417)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Environment/Behaviour Methods for Design examines a range of research methodologies that designers can use to inform their design thinking. This subject is geared to planning and design students who want to learn a range of research field methods and their application for use in their studies (e.g. site analysis, thesis research). Students studying landscape architecture, urban design and planning will benefit from the tool box of evidence-based environment behaviour (EB) methods covered in this subject. Students learn how to use various methods to study how people, and groups of people, use, perceive and think about built urban spaces to inform their design and planning decision-making. Methods covered in this subject are primary those derived from environmental psychological, which have been developed for addressing a range of environment behaviour research questions. Students will develop a working knowledge of various research methods and their applications, with a focus on urban environments and their users’ needs and preferences. The subject encompasses lectures, case studies, readings and fieldwork-based projects and includes, but is not limited to, methods for behavioural mapping and systematic observation of spaces, measuring responses to visual stimuli, user surveys and interviews and a range of other useful methods. Students will engage in fieldwork in collecting data, both qualitative and quantitively, on human/environment interactions within the context of real-world urban environments. Methods for data analysis, representing findings and their translation into design decision-making are also covered.
Intended learning outcomes
- Use of environment/behaviour (E/B) data collection field methods
- Analyse of data collected using E/B field methods
- Design and planning research methodologies
- Communicate E/R research findings
- Critical review of published E/B research
- Use of E/B research results to inform design and planning thinking
Generic skills
- critical reading, thinking and analysis
- seeking, evaluating and retrieving information
- Skills in the use of environment/behaviour research methods
- Comprehension of complex environment/behaviour concepts
- Ability to express research findings in writing, orally and graphically
- Ability to work individually and in groups.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into MC-LARCH - Master of Landscape Architecture
OR
Admission into MC-URPL - Master of Urban Planning
OR
Admission into MC-URBDES - Master of Urban Design
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Written assignment (individual task), critical review of self-selected peer reviewed three journal articles that describe the use of E/B research methods for environmental design and planning practice and research
| Week 4 | 20% |
Group oral, visual and written presentation of research project plan, including selection of at least three research methods applied to a suitable study site, equivalent to 1000 words
| Week 6 | 20% |
Written research report (individual task), illustrating the use of E/B research methods and how the findings can inform environmental design and planning actions
| Week 12 | 60% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 1X2 hour lecture and 1X1 hour tutorial per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
John Zeisel (2006). Inquiry by Design: Environment/Behavior/Neuroscience in Architecture, Interiors, Landscape, and Planning.
Last updated: 3 November 2022