Claiming Places: An Exploration of People’s Use of Locative Media and the Relationship to Sense of Place by Glen E. Farrelly A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Information University of Toronto © Copyright by Glen E. Farrelly 2017 Claiming Places: An Exploration of People’s Use of Locative Media and the Relationship to Sense of Place Glen E. Farrelly Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Information University of Toronto 2017 Abstract This dissertation explores the role of locative media in people’s place-making activities and sense of place. Sense of place is a human need that entails people’s meanings, memories, and feelings for a location. Recent technological and market developments have introduced powerful geographic information tools and place-related media. By identifying a user’s location, locative media deliver geographically relevant content that enable people to capture and preserve place information, virtually append it to space, and broadcast it to others. Despite locative media’s growing prominence, the influence on sense of place is not well understood. A major finding of this research is that use of locative media can contribute meaningfully to a person’s positive sense of place, including fostering existential connection. This study refutes scholarly and popular dismissals of the medium as only detracting from sense of place. Locative media was found to enable people to make spaces their own by offering geographic relevant information and experiences, recording and sharing place-related impressions, and presenting places in new and enjoyable ways, such as through defamiliarization and decommodification. This study demonstrates the importance of access to our hybrid spaces, unfettered by corporate restriction, to create meaningful place relationships. However, it was ii also found that locative media can distract from sense of place through the loss of serendipitous discovery. This study used qualitative field reports and semi-structured interviews with 22 people, predominantly from Ontario, Canada. Participants reported using 44 locative media applications in a variety of contexts and locations. Crawford’s urban counter dynamics (2012) and Bott’s sense of place work (2000) were employed as analytical frameworks. Methodologically, this study demonstrates the utility of Bott’s sense of place framework and provides an effective mix of methods for future studies. This research contributes to place theory and mobile media studies by examining the role of locative media in sense of place. From an information studies perspective, it offers evidence of the use and value of geographic relevance and vocality of information. Design guidelines are offered to aid the development of locative media to foster user engagement and conservation attitudes towards place. iii Acknowledgments The process to completion of a doctoral degree is legendarily herculean and, at times, sisyphean. I could not have made it through my odyssey were it not for the support and guidance of many people. First, I offer my utmost gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. David J. Phillips, and my advisory committee members, Dr. Lynne C. Howarth and Dr. Martha Ladly. Their invaluable and extensive knowledge, advice, and support provided me with the intellectual direction that made this dissertation possible from start to finish. I would also like to acknowledge the support I received from current and former University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information faculty and staff, specifically Christine Chan, Dr. Wendy Duff, Dr. Jenna Hartel, Laura Jentek, Dr. Seamus Ross, and Adriana Rossini. Their collective guidance enabled me to navigate academia and refine my scholarly skills. As well, my former professors at Royal Roads University, Dr. Michael Real and Dr. Phillip Vannini, helped inspire and shape my scholarly path. My peers in academia provided much needed camaraderie and advice, from my fellow cohort of Michael Jones, Rebecka Sheffield, Rhon Teruelle, and Stephanie Perrin to international colleagues Dr. Leighton Evans, Dr. Katina Michael, and Dr. Abhilash Nair. My work with Dr. Martha Ladly and her research lab at OCAD University expanded my skills through innovative digital media projects with a team of amazing fellow research assistants. I would also like to thank Stephen Fetter and Betsy Anderson at Emmanuel College for giving me opportunities to expand my pedagogical skills. I am indebted to the participants of my study who shared their time and experience. They eagerly gave a remarkable depth and range of experiences and offered a wealth of insight that took this research in new directions and forms the basis of this paper. Finally, I am eternally grateful to my family for their daily support. My wife, Jennifer, has aided this process in every way possible, from being an intellectual sounding board and thoughtful critic to being an emotional cheerleader and provider of therapeutic treats, it is no iv overstatement to say that I could not have done this without her. My daughter, Nora, provides endless laughter, joy, and curiosity that is a constant source of inspiration. This dissertation was supported by an Ethel W. Auster Scholarship for Doctoral Research and Social Science and Humanities Research Council Canada Graduate Scholarship, 2010-2013. v Table of Contents List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... xiii List of Appendices ....................................................................................................................... xiv Glossary .........................................................................................................................................xv Chapter 1 Introduction..................................................................................................................1 1.1 Motivation and Purpose of the Study...................................................................................1 1.2 Background of Study ...........................................................................................................4 1.2.1 Fundamentals of sense of place ...............................................................................5 1.2.2 Fundamentals of locative media ..............................................................................6 1.3 Research Problem and Research Questions .........................................................................8 1.4 Research Approach ..............................................................................................................9 1.5 Significance of Study .........................................................................................................10 1.6 Dissertation Overview .......................................................................................................11 Chapter 2 Analytical Framework and Key Concepts ..............................................................13 2.1 Chapter Overview ..............................................................................................................13 2.2 Sense of Place Definition and Operationalization .............................................................13 2.2.1 The need to define sense of place ..........................................................................14 2.2.2 Foundational concepts of place and space .............................................................14 2.2.3 Concepts associated and conflated with sense of place .........................................15 2.2.4 Sense of place definition ........................................................................................17 2.2.5 Bott’s domains and items comprising sense of place ............................................19 2.3 Spatial Counter Dynamics .................................................................................................23 2.3.1 Collaboration..........................................................................................................24 2.3.2 Decommodification................................................................................................24 vi 2.3.3 Defamiliarization ...................................................................................................25 2.3.4 Refamiliarization....................................................................................................25 2.3.5 Familiarization .......................................................................................................26 2.4 Locative Media ..................................................................................................................26 2.4.1 Definition of locative media and mobile device ....................................................26 2.4.2 Use cases of locative media ...................................................................................28 2.4.3 Typology of locative media applications ...............................................................29 2.5 Guiding Principles – Critical Theory of Technology and Social Shaping Theory ............31 2.6 Chapter Conclusion ............................................................................................................33 Chapter 3 Review of the Literature ...........................................................................................34 3.1 Chapter Overview ..............................................................................................................34