Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Observation Study
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Transcript of Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Observation Study
Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Observation
Study
Acknowledgement of Country• Nathan; The Yugarabul,
Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
• Brisbane City; The Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Observational Methods
• Observation Techniques (Veal, 2006)– Unstructured– Participant– Covert
• Observation Methods– Checklist & photography– Key dimensions of time, activity,
attitude, space– Social sciences chosen before
study – psychology & sociology
The City Botanic Gardens• Brisbane’s oldest park which used to
be a zoo with bears• Queensland’s first sugar cane crop • Experimental trees such as
jacarandas and macadamias. • Living museum of plant collections• One of the most important non-
Indigenous cultural landscapes • Natural and historic values
• Bike and rollerblade hire• Picnic areas and restaurant • Brisbane Riverstage • Tours twice daily (except
Sundays, public holidays, mid-Dec to mid-Jan)– 11.00am or 1.00pm at the
Rotunda opposite the Albert Street gates
The City Botanic Gardens
• The Botanic Gardens offer a range of diverse settings.
• It was designed to gain the attraction of the Brisbane community.
• With the park portraying many features including
• Areas, walking and biking tracks, well designed undercover areas for functions, undercover picnic areas for families to enjoy.
The City Botanic Gardens
The City Botanic Gardens• The settings include a wide range of
features for people to use. • Specific types of people that attend the
setting include families, tourists, couples, the individual and groups of people.
• As a group we were to determine whether there were any specific types of people attending the setting.
• And if they were using the facilities for the purposes of what they are designed for.
• Mostly men present at the time • Group using the space of one of the open
fields. • University students from QUT using the
setting to relax • Tourists looking at all the attractions. • Once observations made clear that there is no
specific type of person or group. • The setting used in the way that it has been
designed.
Motivation
What motivated people to use the Botanical Gardens for leisure activities are the need for:
• Escape from perceived mundane environments• Rest and relaxation• Sunlight• Regressive behaviour• Self-evaluation• Self-esteem, prestige and confidence• Social interactions• Spend time with relatives and friends• Indulge in nostalgia• Education and learn about the world
Motivation
• The need to escape from perceived mundane environments– Students– Singular people– Families– Joggers and walkers– Tourists
Motivation
• The need for rest and relaxation– Students– Singular people– Families– Joggers and walkers– Tourists
Motivation
• The need for sunlight– Students– Singular– Elderly tourists– Cyclists– Families– Joggers and walkers– Tourists
Motivation
• The need for regressive behaviour– Families– Adults and children
• The need for self-evaluation and the need for self esteem, prestige and confidence– Joggers and walkers– Singular people
Motivation
• The need for social interaction– Students– Elderly tourists– Cyclists– Families– Joggers and walkers– Tourists
Motivation
• The need to spend time with relatives and friends– Joggers and walkers– Families
• The need to indulge in nostalgia– Elderly people
• The need for education and learning about the world– Tourists
Design Features
• Botanic Gardens have been designed specifically for the use of patrons
• Certain requirements must be met in regards to:– Safety – Usability– Durability– Comfort of patrons
Activities Possible
• cycling• bird watching • skating• picnics• jogging/running• scenic walks• reading• birthday parties• weddings• quiet study• photo shoots
Specific Features• Lamps• Toilets• Taps and bubblers• Rubbish bins • Wide paths• Informative signs• Directional signs• Tables and
benches• Fencing around old
trees
Perspectives of Analysis
• Psychological– Human beings
as individuals– Individual
experience and make-up shape individual
• Sociological– Human beings as
group members– Social discourses
shape individual– Link between City
Botanic Gardens’ place in society and relevance to lifestyles
Psychological Perspective• Motivations for tourism (Leiper, 2004)
– Escape the mundane– Rest and relaxation– Sunlight and nature– Regression and nostalgia
• Intrinsic/extrinsic reasoning• Flow theory (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975,
1990)– Balance between work and relaxation– Activities cannot cause too much anxiety
or boredom• Study, work or playing sport in the park
Sociological Perspective
• Social inequality study (McKay, 1990)– Leisure for all, but used by higher socio-
economic• Botanic Gardens in city reflects this
– Leisure “neither transcend nor create social inequalities but, rather, reproduce them.”
• Gender differences– Safety
• Only solo females were closer to QUT
– Masculinity
Sociological Perspective
• Serious vs. casual leisure (Stebbins, 1997)– Time, intensity and effort
differences
• Increased need for nearby natural leisure spaces– Working more hours– Ageing population– Need to keep citizens active
In Closing
• The Botanic Gardens is a popular and excellent leisure environment
• Variety of people participating in leisure at the Botanic Gardens
• Vast motivations and behaviours• Indicative of both psychological
and sociological reasons.