Quality of life research in urban geography

The 1980s represent a significant period for the development of urban geography - a decade that advanced the reformation of urban geography as a conceptually sound, analytically powerful, integrative discipline capable of making a distinctive contribution to mainstream social science research on the city. The decade also witnessed the emergence of new theories, concepts and research themes that were to have an enduring influence on the nature of the subject. Prominent in this new research portfolio were issues related to quality of life in the city. This paper outlines the main developments in urban geography in the 1980s with particular reference to themes relating to quality-of-life research. The discussion introduces the concept of 'useful knowledge' within the context of 'applied urban geography'; examines the key dimensions of quality-of-life research in urban geography; and concludes by adopting a prospective viewpoint to identify a number of quality-of-life issues of significance for the urban geography of the 21st century