Quantitative analysis in the field of environment and behavior

Abstract

This paper introduces the research procedures frequently used in the environment and behavior research available and applicable to the several topics related to aspects of the built environment, including building and urban related studies. This research area is presented, and their mains characteristics and methodological implications are discussed. Despite the emphasis on the complementary use of qualitative and quantitative methods, the paper focuses on methods used to quantitatively describe and analyze data collected in environment and behavior research. Besides the non-parametric statistical tests applied to quantitative data collected through questionnaires, some alternative and complementary quantitative data analysis procedures are discussed. These procedures are based on numerical information included in spatial graphic representations, such as lines, dots and shape, as analytical procedures involving Geographic Information Systems. This paper also introduces space syntax analysis, which allows the identification, for example, of different levels of accessibility and potential of movement of axial lines, according to spatial configuration of urban areas or individual buildings.