FixMyStreet! The geography of citizen reporting on neighbourhood issues in the UK

Citation

Matthews P, Rae A, Nyanzu E & Parsons A (2018) FixMyStreet! The geography of citizen reporting on neighbourhood issues in the UK. Consumer Data Research Centre.

Abstract
This short report accompanies a set of online maps and data produced as part of a collaboration between researchers at the University of Stirling, the University of Sheffield and mySociety (a not-for-profit social enterprise). The work was funded by the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC), which was established by the UK Economic and Social Research Council as part of phase two of the Big Data Network. In this report we provide commentary on our attempt to understand spatial patterns of citizen reporting on local issues though mySociety's FixMyStreet app and website over an eleven year period. At the outset, it is important to be aware of a number of methodological caveats that must be borne in mind when interpreting the results. These are mentioned throughout the report, and in the penultimate section in particular in a series of Frequently Asked Questions.

Keywords
FixMyStreet; neighbourhood cleanliness; public services; citizen engagement