Methodological Frameworks and Interdisciplinary Research on Gated Communities

Abstract

The paper examines gated communities as an object of study that has attracted sustained scholarly attention across multiple disciplines. It argues that, despite extensive research output, the field lacks coherent and comparable methodological frameworks. The authors propose clearer approaches for empirical investigation, focusing on three interrelated dimensions of urban fragmentation: social, spatial, and institutional. Through the presentation of distinct methodological frameworks and their integration into a broader interdisciplinary model, the paper demonstrates how complex urban phenomena such as gated communities can be analysed more systematically. The contribution highlights the value of interdisciplinary research for understanding socio-spatial dynamics and advancing planning scholarship.