The Evolution of Spatial Planning Research in Response to Societal Developments A Longitudinal Analysis of MSc Theses

Abstract

The goal of this study is to evaluate the expanding body of literature on master students' spatial planning theses to discover patterns and developments in this field over the past 15 years. The 2008 global economic crisis could represent a new paradigm in spatial planning, as well as an important event that indicates the end of a certain period. Major challenges that the discipline of spatial planning has faced in recent decades have necessitated a thorough examination of traditional planning techniques and frameworks. This has been experienced by both scholars and practitioners. Furthermore, the number of interdisciplinary collaborations in spatial planning education has increased, highlighting the interdependence of economic, social, and environmental factors in shaping urban landscapes. This retrospective research seeks to reveal the changing significance of spatial planning topics over time. The findings of this study offer significant insights for policymakers, educators, and practitioners in the field of spatial planning. The study utilises a longitudinal content analysis of Master of Science theses from five planning universities in the Netherlands, covering a period of 15 years. The main question in this study is: How has Dutch spatial planning research responded to societal developments over the past 15 years, as reflected in MSc thesis research? To answer this question, a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, incorporating text-mining techniques, was utilised. To further improve the results, interviews with experts and a manual examination of several theses were conducted. The research shows that the majority of thesis topics are influenced by the areas of expertise of supervisors, the curricula, and societal changes. The governance and policy innovation cluster has always been one of the most attractive themes among students. Another prominent topic that has increasingly received attention over time is environmental sustainability, resilience, and urban agriculture. This could be an indication of a tendency to tackle socio-economic and ecological concerns while focusing on regulatory frameworks.