This Space Has More Potential - Proposal to improve the linear park under AMK viaduct

4.2 Structured Observations As suggested by Creswell (2018), structured observations should be conducted in a natural manner by going directly on-site to understand and experience the problem first-hand without interacting with the participants. It allows for collection of data according to set of predefined rules and procedures for the purposes of this proposal, capture of factual data with a temporal dimension (i.e., duration, frequency and sequence of events) and that may be replicated for comparison across other similar spaces. When combined with interviews, it will yield results with strong cogency and sufficient data generalisation between what people say with what they actually do. Overall, structured observation enables us to examine the condition of the space and user's behaviour pattern.

Our team altogether conducted four on-site structured observations. The first and second onsite structured observations (SO1 and SO2) are conducted on a Saturday afternoon. This timing is chosen because we wish to capture usage of the space outside of its transit purposes, which is more likely to happen and in greater numbers in the weekends as opposed to weekdays. The purpose of SO1 is to observe: a. observe the physical attributes of the space (including location, surrounding amenities, access points and features), b. feel the conditions of the space (such as lighting, sound, smell, windiness and humidity), c. identity users of the space; and d. gather intelligence to plan for subsequent site visits for observations, surveys, interviews and interactive sessions.

SO2 is a continuation of SO1 and conducted at similar timing to quantify usage of the space.

Based on intelligence gathered in SO1, the section closer to the AMK MRT station was chosen as it is the site with the most users and variety of activities. The findings of SO1 and SO2 are recorded in the form of a field note (see Appendix 1), observation schedule (see Appendix 2) and photograph (as illustrated throughout this proposal).