This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Methodology of Urban Planning

Code: 44466 ECTS Credits: 9
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Territorial Studies and Planning OB 1

Contact

Name:
Antonio Miguel Solana Solana
Email:
antoniomiguel.solana@uab.cat

Teachers

Joaquin Recaņo Valverde
Antonio Miguel Solana Solana

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

It is recommended to have previously studied subjects related to research methodology (quantitative and qualitative).

This subject will be taught mainly in Catalan.


Objectives and Contextualisation

This module of the master's degree deals with advanced content in terms of methodological instruments used in statistics and qualitative research methods. Apart from the formal aspects of obligatory knowledge and application in all research work, the subject is oriented towards effective and practical work with methodological instruments of both quantitative and qualitative types, and emphasizes the social and territorial approach. Is works with multivariate statistical analysis methods, database management, method application quantitative and qualitative, diagnosis and territorial proposal.

In addition to the contents mentioned, this module has a section in which the methodology is worked with which the Final Master's Thesis must be prepared


Learning Outcomes

  1. CA07 (Competence) Use quantitative methodologies for territorial and urban analysis and diagnosis.
  2. CA08 (Competence) Understand how to use statistical information sources for territorial and urban planning.
  3. CA09 (Competence) Rank the most innovative and effective methodological techniques for each area of territorial specialisation.
  4. CA10 (Competence) Recognise methodologies based on equity and social and gender justice.
  5. KA08 (Knowledge) Apply quantitative methodologies using geostatistics software.
  6. KA09 (Knowledge) Recognise how software can help with the qualitative treatment of social imbalances.
  7. KA10 (Knowledge) Organise research based on ethical aspects.
  8. KA37 (Knowledge) Use digital cartographic information to apply spatial data.
  9. SA05 (Skill) Justify the need to manage space in an integrated manner, taking into account its multiple dimensions (social, political, economic, environmental and physical) on an urban and territorial scale.
  10. SA06 (Skill) Compare the main techniques and processes for obtaining information as part of a qualitative analysis.
  11. SA07 (Skill) Identify the best qualitative and quantitative methodology for each subject of study.
  12. SA32 (Skill) To develop quantitative indicators in the diagnosis of inequality and segregation processes.

Content

Qualitative methodology

The objective of these sessions will be to know the use and limitations of the main qualitative analysis techniques focused on territorial studies and the elaboration of planning and planning proposals. The sessions will combine theoretical aspects with practical sessions with qualitative analysis software programs. The sessions will work on the following aspects:

  • a) The combination of methods and the use of qualitative methodology within mixed methodologies
  • b) The use of participatory methodologies that involve the active participation of social groups/groups under study in the definition of research and fieldwork
  • c) The main ethical aspects involved in the use of qualitative methodology, especially aspects related to anonymity and confidentiality, and covert research strategies
  • d) An indication of qualitative techniques and their application to studies of territorial and urban planning and planning. Special emphasis will be placed on walking interviews and visual methods (photostimulation, reflexive photography, photovoice and photodocumentation) and qualitative cartografies.
  • e) Finally, the process of qualitative information analysis will be worked on: coding and analysis of information with qualitative software programs (CAQDAS), specifically the Atlas.ti program. These practices will be carried out entirely in the computer rooms of the Faculty of Arts.

8 sessions of 2 hours:

  • Main contributions and uses of qualitative methodology
  • Mixed methodologies
  • Participatory methodologies
  • Ethical aspects of research with qualitative methods
  • Qualitative techniques (mobile methods, visual methods and qualitative cartographies) and application to territorial studies

4 sessions of 2 hours:

  • Intense analysis of information: coding
  • Computer tools for qualitative information analysis (CAQDAS)

Quantitative methodology

Numerical and spatial tools for the analysis of residential segregation and socioeconomic inequalities in urban areas.

The objective of this module is to introduce students to different techniques and methodologies of numerical and spatial analysis that will be very useful when addressing the analysis of urban spaces.

Computer tools for qualitative information analysis (CAQDAS).

8 sessions of 2 hours:

  • Obtaining local data at infra-municipal scale and building dynamic tables in Excel
  • Introduction to descriptive statistics: indicators of central tendency and dispersion
  • Analysis of contingency tables and Pearson's Khi-2 test
  • Inequality indicators: Lorenz curve and Gini index
  • Introduction to the indirect standarization techniques at local scale
  • Calculation and interpretation of indicators of segregation and spatial concentration
  • Exploratory analysis of spatial data (AEDE) with the GeoDA program, use and interpretation of Global and Local Moran indicators
  • Application of numerical and spatial tools to a case study

4 sessions of 2 hours

  • Development of the case study with guided practices on descriptive statistics, estimation of demographic indicators, calculation of segregation and inequality indicators and application of the GeoDa program.

 


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Carrying out practices of calculation and interpretation of territorial indicators and demographics 27.25 1.09 CA07, CA08, KA08, KA37, SA05, SA32, CA07
Oral presentations by teachers, seminar sessions, classroom practices and master classes with ICT support and group discussion 40 1.6 CA07, CA08, CA09, CA10, KA08, KA09, KA10, KA37, SA05, SA06, SA07, SA32, CA07
Type: Supervised      
Discussion of book readings and articles and group / individual tutorials 33.75 1.35 CA07, CA09, KA10, SA05, SA07, CA07
Type: Autonomous      
Reading of books, articles and other teaching materials, study of the bibliography, elaboration of works and presentations on readings and practices 124 4.96 CA07, CA08, CA10, KA10, SA05, SA06, SA07, SA32, CA07

The work methodology will combine: face-to-face classes (methodological presentation by the teacher); seminar sessions (discussions and debates based on previous presentations); practices with computer software (calculation practices in the computer room); group and individualized tutorials; commentary on bibliography readings; and autonomous work of the student.

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Evaluation of qualitative methods 50 0 0 CA07, CA09, CA10, KA09, KA10, SA05, SA06, SA07
Evaluation of quantitative methods 50 0 0 CA07, CA08, CA09, CA10, KA08, KA10, KA37, SA05, SA07, SA32

This module is divided into two parts:

• Qualitative Methods

• Quantitative Methods

Each of the two parts must be passed with a minimum passing grade.

 

Continuous Assessment

Qualitative Methods 50% of the final grade. The due dates for each activity will be announced at the beginning of the course.

• Analysis of qualitative materials (interviews, photographs, and/or filming) using the CAQDAS qualitative analysis program Atlas.ti (20%).
• Design of a project for the diagnosis and planning of public space using qualitative or mixed methodology (25%).
• Reading, analysis, and oral presentation of a set of readings on different topics covered in the lectures (5%).

Quantitative Methods 50% of the final grade. The due dates for each activity will be announced at the beginning of the course.

• An exercise analyzing spatial segregation and territorial inequality using standardized indicators (35%).
• An indirect standardization exercise (30%)
• An exercise on spatial autocorrelation using infra-municipal data (35%).

This course does not include a single assessment system.

 

Erasmus Students

Erasmus students who request to advance an exam must submit a written document from their home university to the teaching staff justifying their request.

Not Assessable

A student who fails to submit at least 30% of the assessable activities will receive a final grade of Not Assessable.

Reavaluation

Students with a final grade of less than 5 and more than 3.5, provided they have submitted at least two-thirds of the assessable activities, may retake the activities they failed and submit them on the scheduled date.

In-person activities (oral presentations, individual or group, field trips, or any other activities that only make sense to have been completed at the time) are excluded.

Plagiarism

If a student commits any irregularity that could lead to a significant change in the grade for an assessment, the assessment will be graded with a 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated. In the event of multiple irregularities in the assessment procedures for the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.

AI

For this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for bibliographic and/or information searches and text corrections. Students must clearly identify which sections were generated with this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how they influenced the process and final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency in the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a breach of academic dishonesty and may result in a partial or total penalty in the activity grade, or greater sanctions in serious cases.

 


Bibliography

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Rhina Cabezas Valencia, José ángel Sotillo Lorenzo (coords.), Metodología de investigación en cooperación

para el desarrollo. Madrid: Catarata, pp. 57-74.

Babbie, Earl (2010, 12è edició), The practise of social research. Wadsworth.

Bryman, Alan (2004), Social research methods (2nd ed.). Nova York: Oxford University Press.

Corbetta, Piergiorgio (2007), Metodología y técnicas de investigación social. Madrid: McGraw-Hill.

Cloke, Paul et al. (2004), Practising human geography. Londres: Sage.

Cresswell, John W.; Plano Clark, Vicky (2018), Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand

Oaks: Sage.

Echart Muñoz, Enara et al. (2010) (coords.), Metodología de investigación en cooperación para el desarrollo.

Madrid: Catarata.

Estruch, Joan (1992), "El conflicte quantitatiu/qualitatiu: un fals problema" a Técniques qualitatives en Ciències

Socials. Cicle de conferències. Barcelona: Societat Catalana de Sociologia, pp. 7-16.

Farthing, Stuart (2016), Research design in urban planning,. A student's guide. Londres: Sage.

Friese, Susanne (2014), Qualitative data analysis with Atlas.ti. Londres: Sage.

Harper, Douglas (2002), "Talking about pictures: a case for photo elicitation", Visual Studies 17(1): pp. 13-26.

Harper, Douglas (2012), Visual sociology. Londres: Routledge.

Hay, Iain (ed.) (2005), Qualitative research methodsin Human Geography. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Kusenbach, Margarethe (2003), "Street Phenomenology: The Go-Along as Ethnographic ResearchTool",

Ethography 4 (3): 455-485.

Michael Meyer; Sylvain Maresca. (2015), Compendio de fotografía para uso de sociólogos. Barcelona:

Bellaterra.

Richards, Lyn (2005), Handling qualitative data. A practical guide. Londres: Sage.

Salmons, Janet (2016), Doing qualitative research online. Londres: Sage.

Valles, Miguel S. (1999), Técnicas cualitativas de investigación social. Reflexión metodológica y práctica

profesional. Madrid: Síntesis.

Valles, Miguel S. (2002), Entrevistas cualitativas. Madrid: CIS.

 

Metodologia quantitativa

Anselin, Luc (1995). Local indicators of spatial association-LISA. Geographical analysis, 27(2), 93-115.

Bardina, Xavier i Farré, Mercè (2005). Estadística: un curs introductori per a estudiants de ciències socials i humanes. Volum 2 descriptiva exploratòria bivariant. Introducció a la inferència. Bellaterra: Servei de Publicacions Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Col•lecció Materials 166.

Bayona, Jordi (2007). La segregación residencial de la población extranjera en Barcelona: ¿una segregaciónfragmentada? Scripta Nova: Revista Electrónica de geografía y ciencias sociales, (11), 235.

Deurloo, Marinus i Musterd, Sako. Ethnic Clusters in Amsterdam, 1944-96: A Micro-area Analysis. UrbanStudies. 1998, vol. 35, nº 3, p. 385-396.

Ebdon, David (1982) Estadística para geógrafos. Barcelona: Oikos Tau. pp 18-23, 28-33, 51-68, 129-142,168-175, 182-212, 240-249.

Eggerickk, Thierry i Poulain, Michel (1996) "De la variabilité des paramètres démographiques pour les petites populations", Espace, populations, sociétés, 14 (1) 93-102

Garrocho, Carlos i Campos-Alanís, Juan (2013). Réquiem por los indicadoresno espaciales de segregación residencial. Papeles de población, 19(77), 269-300.

López Roldan, Pedro i Fachelli, Sandra (2015). Metodología dela Investigación Social Cuantitativa. Bellaterra. (Cerdanyola del Vallès):Dipòsit Digital de Documents, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. 1ª edición. Edición digital: http://ddd.uab.cat/record/129382

Marqués, Felicidad i Asensio (2009), Estadística descriptiva a través de EXCEL. México D.F.: RC Libros.

Martori Joan Carles i Karen Hoberg (2004). Indicadores cuantitativos de segregación residencial: El caso de la población inmigrante en Barcelona. Scripta Nova: Revista electrónica de geografía y ciencias sociales, (8), 169. http://www.ub.edu/geocrit/sn/sn-169.htm

Martori, Joan Carles i Hoberg, Karen (2008). Nuevas técnicas de estadística espacial para la detencción de clusters residenciales de población inmigrante, Scripta-Nova, Vol. XII, núm. 263.

http://www.ub.edu/geocrit/sn/sn-263.htm

Martori, Joan Carles; Hoberg, Karen, & Surinach, Jordi (2006). Población inmigrante y espacio urbano: Indicadores de segregación y pautas de localización. EURE (Santiago), 32(97), 49-62.

https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0250-71612006000300004

Martori, Joan Carles (2007). La segregación residencial en Barcelona. Llibre Blanc de l'Habitatge a Barcelona.

Massey, Douglas S. i Denton, Nancy A. (1988). The dimensions of residential segregation. Social forces, 67 (2), 281-315

Raso, José M.; Martín Vide, Javier i Clavero, Pedro (1987) Estadística básica para Ciencias Sociales. Barcelona: Ariel. pp.77-92, 256-257

Recaño, Joaquín i Esteve, Albert (2006). (Re-) visitando García Faria: Un estudio de los factores espaciales y medioambientales de la mortalidad en la Barcelona de finales del siglo XIX. Revista de Demografía Histórica,24(1), 121-180.

Sánchez , Cristina i Domínguez , Màrius (2001), "Anàlisi de l'estructura social de les comarques catalanes a partir de dades censals", Revista Catalana de Sociología, 14, p.193-213.

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Web pages

www.ine.es Instituto Nacional de Estadística

www.ced.uab.es Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics

www.idescat.cat Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya

https://spatial.uchicago.edu/


Software

Available in the computer rooms of the faculty:

  • Atlas.ti
  • Geode

Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon