Controlled Assessment Hypotheses

Students to choose 3/4 hypotheses

• Are comparison shops clustered together in the CBD of St Albans.

• Is there a high degree of agglomeration of similar services and functions in St

Albans CBD?

• Does the core and periphery model of the CBD apply to St Albans?

• To what extent is St Albans dominated by nationwide chain stores and multiples

(and not by small independent businesses)?

• Is the highest rateable value site located in the most accessible part of the CBD?

For students to guarantee their own originality, they can test their own area on one of
these and compare briefly.

The methods that can be used…..

• Land use survey

• Shop orders/ convenience & comparison stores
• Core and periphery eg building heights
• Clustering-students to look for clusters
• Clone index
• Retail quality
• Environmental quality?

Useful website:

http://www.2010.voa.gov.uk/rli/en/basic/find/select for rateable values

 Type of Shop Independently Owned? Chain store?
1. Food retailer
2. Newsagents
3. Stationary/books
4. Department store
 5. Restaurant/Takeaway/
Fast food/coffee shop
6. Pub/Bar
7. Off licence
8. Professional (Law,
insurance etc)
9. Estate agents
10. Health care/beauty
shop
11. Clothing (shoes,
accessories etc)
12. Electronic/IT
13. Barbers/hair
salon/beauticians and
cosmetics
14. Toys/Sports
15. Music/games/dvds
16. Florists
17. Dry cleaning
18. Travel agents
19. Camera shop
20. Other (eg betting,
charity shop,
jewellers)

TOTAL: ________________