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Measuring Physical Characteristics of Housing: The Built Environment Site Survey Checklist (BESSC)

Author

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  • Elizabeth Burton

    (Wellbeing in Sustainable Environments (WISE) Research Unit, Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development, School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, England)

  • Scott Weich

    (Division of Health in the Community, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, England)

  • Martin Blanchard

    (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, England)

  • Martin Prince

    (Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, England)

Abstract

Empirical research in the built environment field is hampered by a lack of reliable measurement tools. The authors argue that there is a need for measures of built form that are objective, descriptive, comprehensive, reliable, practical, and address all environmental scales. They outline the development of an instrument to measure physical characteristics of housing for use in a study funded by the Wellcome Trust, on the effects of regeneration on mental health. The Built Environment Site Survey Checklist (BESSC) contains a wide range of items designed to be rated by built environment specialists for individual predetermined ‘housing areas’. The interrater reliability of the BESSC was tested using the κ and weighted κ statistics for categorical variables and item rankings and intraclass correlation coefficients for continuous measures. The majority of the items were found to be reliable and, although the instrument requires further refinement, it offers substantial potential for investigation of the relative merits of alternative urban forms and the generation of research-based design guidance.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Burton & Scott Weich & Martin Blanchard & Martin Prince, 2005. "Measuring Physical Characteristics of Housing: The Built Environment Site Survey Checklist (BESSC)," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 32(2), pages 265-280, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:32:y:2005:i:2:p:265-280
    DOI: 10.1068/b3038
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