This Ph.D. work provides a comprehensive overview of psychosocial action research conducted within a multidisciplinary urban redevelopment project, aimed at improving the quality of life within the economically and socially precarious downtown area of Seraing (Belgium).
Public urban green space (UGS) interventions are recognized as cost-effective public health interventions, yet optimal implementation methods to maximize benefits and minimize side effects remain under-researched. Many UGS interventions focus their investments on the structural aspects of these spaces, neglecting to recognize the impact of more psycho-socio-environmental variables. Following the iterative process inherent to action research, this Ph.D. work examines the relationship between residents and UGSs to better understand how to implement effective UGS interventions in this specific area, while aiming to produce an analysis, based on theory and practice that can be applied to other territories experiencing similar urban challenges.
Action research remains a rarely used approach in social and environmental psychology (SEP) and is mostly considered as a heterodox idea. Therefore, this Ph.D. work has also to be seen as an attempt to field-test this approach. While it seems challenging to claim both a high degree of scientific validity and significant field impact, including some experimental methods in the process, makes this approach still appropriate in a project being primarily problem-focused.
This pilot project highlights the importance of moving beyond day-to-day urban management solutions, to a long-term perspective. This means taking the time to invest in a proper field analysis, where SEP has his place by allowing a better understanding of the issue before committing public funds to potentially ineffective or even counterproductive interventions. A Place to Be-Come 11. Sustainable cities and communities