| dc.description.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. | en_EN |
