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  • Book
  • © 2011

Investigating Quality of Urban Life

Theory, Methods, and Empirical Research

  • Comprehensive coverage of topic
  • Reports on recent research covering Urban QoL in several places around the world
  • Focus on theory, methodologies and empirical aspects of the conceptualisation, measurement, analysis and modelling of aspects of urban QoL

Part of the book series: Social Indicators Research Series (SINS, volume 45)

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Table of contents (19 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
  2. An Overview of Quality of Urban Life

    • Robert W. Marans, Robert Stimson
    Pages 1-29
  3. Approaches to the Study of Quality of Life and Quality of Urban Life

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 31-31
  4. Approaches to the study of quality of life and quality of urban life

    1. Objective Measurement of Quality of Life Using Secondary Data Analysis

      • Robert Stimson, Robert W. Marans
      Pages 33-53
    2. Subjective Measurement of Quality of Life Using Primary Data Collection and the Analysis of Survey Data

      • Rod McCrea, Robert W. Marans, Robert Stimson, John Western
      Pages 55-75
    3. The Evolution of Integrative Approaches to the Analysis of Quality of Urban Life

      • Rod McCrea, Robert Stimson, Robert W. Marans
      Pages 77-104
  5. Empirical Studies of the Objective Measurement of Quality of Urban Life

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 105-105
  6. Empirical studies of the objective measurement of quality of urban life

    1. Amenities, Quality of Life, and Regional Development

      • Gordon F. Mulligan, John I. Carruthers
      Pages 107-133
  7. Empirical Studies of the Subjective Assessment of Quality of Urban Life Illustrated by a Selection of Case Studies

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 161-161
  8. Empirical studies of the subjective assessment of quality of urban life illustrated by a selection of case studies

    1. The Quality of Life in Metro Detroit at the Beginning of the Millennium

      • Robert W. Marans, Byoung-Suk Kweon
      Pages 163-183
    2. Measuring Quality of Urban Life in Istanbul

      • Handan Türkoğlu, Fulin Bölen, Perver Korça Baran, Fatih Terzi
      Pages 209-231
    3. The Salzburg Quality of Urban Life Study with GIS Support

      • Alexander G. Keul, Thomas Prinz
      Pages 273-293
    4. Comparing Urban and Rural Quality of Life in the State of Washington

      • Benjamin L. Messer, Don A. Dillman
      Pages 315-343
  9. Innovations in Modeling Quality of Urban Life Data

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 345-345
  10. Innovations in modelling quality of urban life data

About this book

The study of quality of urban life involves both an objective approach to analysis using spatially aggregated secondary data and a subjective approach using unit record survey data whereby people provide subjective evaluations of  QOL domains. This book provides a comprehensive overview of theoretical perspectives on QOUL and methodological approaches to research design to investigate QOUL and measure QOL dimensions. It incorporates empirical investigations into QOUL in a range of cities across the world.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“The book is an authoritative collection of essays that provides a valuable introduction to the field of research on QOUL, identifies key conceptual and methodological issues, and presents a number of well-written and informative empirical case studies that together illustrate the value and relevance of the research for the citizens of our contemporary urban world.” (Michael Pacione, Journal of Regional Science, Vol. 52 (2), 2012)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Inst. Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

    Robert W. Marans

  • Network (AURIN), University of Melbourne, Architecture Building and Planning, Australian Urban Research Infrastructure, Melbourne, Australia

    Robert J. Stimson

About the editors

Robert W. Marans is a research professor at the Institute for Social Research and a professor emeritus of architecture and urban planning in the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan. During the past 30 years, Dr. Marans has conducted evaluative studies and research dealing with various aspects of communities, neighborhoods, housing, and parks and recreation and recreational facilities. His research has focused on user requirements and the manner in which attributes of the physical and sociocultural environments influence individual and group behavior and the quality of community life. Much of Dr. Marans' research has been in the context of urban areas. His current research considers the impact of the built and natural environments on quality of life, the role of neighborhood in the health of Detroit residents, and issues of sustainability in the workplace. The latter examines the human aspects of energy conservation and sustainability at the University of Michigan.

Marans is a registered architect and is active in recreation planning and policy in southeastern Michigan. He is a charter member and president of the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation commission and commissioner of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority (HCMA), the governing body responsible for the planning, development, and operations of the metroparks throughout Southeastern Michigan. He serves on the board of the Michigan Land Use Institute, and is a trustee of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. He has also been a trustee of the Washtenaw Land Trust and served on the executive committee of the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute and the University's Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy. Dr. Marans is the author or co-author of 7 books and more than 100 articles and technical reports. He has lectured extensively throught the US and in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Brazil and the Middle East. 

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access