Using walk-recordings and images - how students experience safety in a city centre

Abstract

This paper reflects on using self-recorded walk and auto-photo-elicitation as qualitative methodological components in studying students' sense oj safery at night in a Central Business District (CBD) area oj a regional ciry in Australia. This paper documents the use and potential of self-recorded walks (SRW) auto-photo-elicitation based on a sturfy on sense of safety at night in a city centre. Fifteen domestic and international students participated in the self-recorded lvalks, taking photos lvhile thry walked alone at night in selected sites. Participants made comments into hand-held voice recorders while walking as well as capturing scenes to express feelings ofpersonal safety about their environment. The paper confirms the value of self-recorded walking and auto-photo-elicitation approaches as tools beyond traditional interviews and survrys to understand feelings offear or safety associated with environmental and social clues in the urban fabric. The paper also documents achievements and constraints encountered f?y researchers/investigators in carrying outfield research of this kind.