Krakowskie "blokowiska" w sondażu studenckim

Abstract

The present survey has been conducted by the students of the Philosophy Department of the Cracow Pedagogical University, as part of their course in sociological research methodology (including different types of surveys and the structuring of a questionnaire). The subject of the survey, which the students found very interesting, is connected with a larger work by the author, conducted under a grant from Komitet Badań Naukowych (State Committee for Scientific Research) After a preliminary analysis of problems that appear in a number of Cracow housing estates, four of them were selected for the survey; these estates (Azory, Bieńczyce, Płaszów, and Ruczaj) perfectly illustrate the common understanding of the term „blokowisko” (a large housing estate consisting of blocks of flats) and are located in different parts of the city. The questionnaire included two sets of questions: the first concerned social problems; the second one concentrated on the functional, technical and esthetical values of the estate. As it was impossible to choose the respondents randomly, the achieved results were relativized according to the respondent’s age, sex, education, and the period of living in the estate. In general, the Azory estate received the highest approval of its inhabitants. Other estates were evaluated differently by respondents of different profiles. Respondents with higher education were quite satisfied with the Ruczaj estate, and gave lowest marks to Bieńczyce. Respondents with vocational and secondary education definitely preferred Bieńczyce. Men praised the commuting transport availability in Płaszów, while women valued more the green areas of Ruczaj, complained about safety in Bieńczyce, but were most dissatisfied with Płaszów. The Bieńczyce estate is preferred by the previous inhabitants of other Nowa Huta estates, while the newcomers do not enjoy living there. Płaszów is the most popular among the inhabitants from local Cracow families. The detailed questions asked in the survey allow to analyse the opinions of respondents of particular profiles with respect to many social and functional values of the estates, and thus to search for the source of more or less appreciative attitude towards their place of living. Yet the most interesting results were obtained from the analysis of answers to open questions in the introductory and middle part of the questionnaire. It revealed the criteria which – consciously or not – the respondents followed while expressing their general attitude towards the estate. These criteria included, first of all the, distance from the city centre, good connection with other districts, friendly social surroundings and quiet, calm and safe neighbourhood. Potential reasons for moving chiefly included the need to improve the ecological conditions of living.