Each of the key topic questions were presented as 1-10 ranges, reflecting the text describing the end point of each axis. People were asked to record their preference, for that topic, on its continuum. For each person’s responses, the answers to the questions were averaged based on the groupings above and plotted over the scenario matrix. For example, if someone scored all three topics under the Built Environment category as 2 on the scale of 1 to 10, their combined average x-axis responses would be 2.

The resulting “scenario validation matrix” is a way to explore what might be the cumulative results of responses to a range of individual issues, and how it compares to the more intuitive and aspirational preferred future heat maps. This provides a validation or back-up analysis, to ensure the heat map data of the Preferred Future is reflective of real-life responses and issues.