About the Book

This book introduces the fundamentals of research methods and how they apply to the discipline of urban and regional planning. Written at a level appropriate for upper-level undergraduate and beginning master’s level students, the text fills a gap in the literature for textbooks on urban planning. Additionally, the book can be used as a reference for planning practitioners and researchers when analyzing quantitative and qualitative data in urban and regional planning and related fields.

The volume does not assume advanced knowledge of mathematical formulas. Rather, it begins with the essentials of research methods, such as the identification of the research problems in planning, the literature review, data collection and presentation, descriptive data analysis, and report of findings. Its discipline-specific topics include field research methods, qualitative data analysis, economic and demographic analysis, evaluation research, and methods in sub-disciplines such as land use planning, transportation planning, environmental planning, and housing analysis.

Designed with instruction in mind, this book features downloadable materials, including learning outcomes, chapter highlights, chapter review questions, datasets, and certain Excel models. Students will be able to download review questions to enhance the learning process and datasets to practice methods.

Contents

Research Methods and the Planning Process

Identifying the Research Problem

Research Design

Data Collection

Data Presentation

Communicating the Research Findings

Statistical Analysis

Qualitative Data Analysis

Demographic Analysis

Analyzing the Local Economy

Evaluation Research

Urban Land Use Analysis

Transportation Planning Analysis

Environmental Analysis

Housing Analysis

About the Author / Editor

Yanmei Li is an associate professor in Urban and Regional Planning at Florida Atlantic University. Her research interests focus on urban economics, housing and community development, and real estate economics and finance. She is particularly interested in residential satisfaction, social capital, affordable housing policies, and housing programs for people with special needs. She is a certified and active member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). She has actively participated in the plan-making process of local communities, served on different advisory committees, and taken on various leadership roles in multiple academic and professional organizations.

 Sumei Zhang is an associate professor in the Department of Urban & Public Affairs at the University of Louisville. Her research interests include regional economics, spatial statistics, mathematical modeling, and geographical information systems, with a focus on its application in planning. Dr. Zhang’s publications and presentations can be found in various regional science, planning, and economic journals and conferences. Her most recent research activities are on economic program evaluation and urban sustainability.