VOL.15, NO.4
THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION, SITUATIONAL CONCERNS AND PREFERENCE IN NATURAL SETTINGS
Yen-Cheng Chiang, Sheng-Jung Ou, Chun-Yen Chang, Pei-Yi Weng
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among environmental information, situational concern and preference. There were 356 participants rated each of six natural settings using a questionnaire with 17 measured variables that assessed environmental information characteristics, situational concern, and preference. The results showed that different gender had significant differences in legibility, environmental safety concern, and wildlife threat. Also, all of photos had significantly differences in the tested variables. The results of correlation analyses also showed that the legibility of environmental information had strongly negative correlations with all variables of situational concern, which meant people who obtained less concern in the natural situation when they can recognize the condition of environment. In addition, the results indicated that the four characteristics of environment positively correlated with preference. On the contrary, situational concern had negative correlations with preference. This study attempted to explore the relationship between the situational concern and preference. It is expected that this study could provide a new issue for landscape beauty assessment in the future study.
URBAN WATERSCAPE MENTAL MAP -- APPLICATION OF ZMET*
Hwang-Lin Hsu, Su-Hsin Lee
Waterscape is an important element of urban landscape design; however, landscape researchers and designers are mostly unable to understand general public's perceptions, thoughts and values of urban waterscape. From the perspective of cognitive psychology this study explored: How sensory information of urban waterscape transfers into metaphor meaning and value? To attain subjects' mental map by combining methods of means-end chain, laddering theory and ZMET (Zaltman Metaphor-Elicitation Technique). We interviewed 16 Taiwanese experts/scholars with different professional background. We used one by one, in depth interview, which consisted of 10 steps. The result established a consensus mental map with hierarchical values. The findings indicated that: 1. The frequencies and the links mentioned among attributes, consequences and values represent the central constructs and perceptive paths. 2. Most of the respondents considered attributes of urban waterscape were pool, water dynamics, vegetation, and recreational space; the main consequences were being with nature, accessibility, meditation, quiet atmosphere, visual / hearing perception, and attraction; the main value pursuit of urban waterscape were natural and artistic beauty, pleasant relaxation, and peace of mind. 3. From the perspective of evolutionary perspective, the meaning of water and vegetation had already been translated from latent physiological needs into nature, beauty and relaxation for present Taiwanese. 4. From cultural learning perspective, the value of urban waterscape was based on linking many positive, nice memories, satisfying people's mental demands and bringing welfare. A designing data bank could be built and become a design instrument of urban waterscape. Further study was suggested to use quantitative method to survey general people's opinions on waterscape factors, and explore the differences between experts and laymen. This research may offer a designing reference for future designers.
TO EXAMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXPERIENCE AND ATTACHMENT IN THE HIGH AND LOW LEISURE INVOLVEMENT GROUPS: THE CASE STUDY OF TOURISTS IN YANGGE
Ching-Cheng Shen, Tzuhui Angie Tseng, Yu-Syuan Ye
Yangge is one of the most glorious ceramics historical development towns in Taiwan. At present, Yangge's ceramic industry also from past traditional industry reformed to the tourism attraction with plentiful cultural characteristic. The tourist's leisure involvement and experience in Yangge whether had the deeper influence to attachment is a topic worthy to explore. This study investigated the relationship between leisure experience and the attachment in the different involvement level tourists, and the tourists as empirical analysis object. The findings are as follows: First, the leisure experience and attachment in high involvement tourists is higher than in low involvement tourists. Second, in observing variables of leisure involvement, the cultural involvement is most important; in observing variables of experience, the related experience is most essential; the place identity is the key observing variables of attachment. Third, the leisure involvement had positive influence to experience, experience has positive to attachment, and involvement had positive influence to attachment. Fourth, experience is the important mediate variable which between leisure involvement and attachment. Fifth, not only the place identity and place dependence, but also the activity service, product attachment and image attach can let tourists have strong attachment to that destination. Sixth, The influence from tourists' leisure involvement to the leisure experience, experience to attachment, and involvement to attachment in high involvement group are higher than in low involvement group. Seventh, the mediate variable, influence from experience to leisure involvement in high involvement group is higher than low involvement group, that demonstrate experience is an important mediate variable form leisure involvement to attachment.
A STUDY ON PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES FOR NOSTALGIA EXPERIENCE OF HISTORICAL STREETSCAPE
Ying-Hung Li, Yen-Fen Hsieh, Chieh Ho
By selecting Chung-Yang street in Makung city as landscape stimuli, the purpose of this study is to discuss the influences of historical streetscape on nostalgia emotion, and to explore the relationships between nostalgia and landscape preference. For the nostalgia emotion measurement, Standardized Emotional Profile (SEP) (Holak & Havlena, 1998) is chosen. Furthermore, focusing position of landscape objects and focusing time for each photo are recorded by way of eye tracking system. The study results show that using both eye tracking system and self-administrated questionnaire, the data shows that fixation place of nostalgia objects are old signs, old building walls, old building types, and old wooden doors and windows. The eye tracking system and the questionnaire have different focus object results. Emotional factors such as irritation, elation, loss and serenity are significant in predicting landscape preference (R2 =.965). Study findings also suggest that preference decreased when too little old objects shown at the historical street scenes.
VOL.15, NO.3
THE STUDY ON CROWDING AT FORMOSAN ABORIGINAL CULTURE VILLAGE
Tzu-Chen Wu, Ying-Hung Li
The purpose of this study is to study crowding issue on a high use level area – theme park. By way of computer simulation, different use levels of encounter at three areas are simulated to measure degree of crowding, acceptability, and preference. Subjects are collected from on- site survey and internet survey. Study results show that critical points for crowding at European Garden District are 20 encounters for on-site and 25 encounters for internet; 25 encounters for both one-site and internet, at UFP Roll Coaster District, and 30 encounters for on-site and 40 encounters for internet at Aboriginal Culture District. Based on these results, this study suggests that visual simulation approach is useful in measuring perceived crowding. Furthermore, people tend to accept more encounters at natural and open district than at artificial facility district in theme park.
DISCUSSING REPRESENTATIVE LANDSCAPE OF TAIWAN: FROM VIEWPOINTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS
Hsieng-Cheng Huang, Chun-Yen Chang
The interview method in qualitative research was used here in order to explore what is the representative landscape of Taiwan from the viewpoints of college students, and to discuss the landscape representativity by finding out the representative reasons. In addition, the environmental cognition and the composing context of landscape images would be discussed by analyzing the college students' notions of Taiwan. There were fifteen college students participated in the interviews. The texts of response from college students were analyzed by “Grounded Theory".
The results of this study showed that there is a very divergent difference among respondents. The representative landscape included “Taipei 101", “Taroko", “farmland in rural area", “night markets", “Alishan scenic area", “Sun Moon Lake scenic area", “mountain landscape in high altitude area", “temples", “historic monuments", “National Palace Museum", and “night scenes in cities". These landscapes can be categorized in four types, (a) well-known or important buildings, (b) well- known scenic area, (c) places or environments relating with living and culture, and (d) landscapes show the natural characteristic. Except the four representative landscape types, there are six dimensions attributed to construct the landscape representability, “speciality", “famousness", “cultural meaning", “identification", “familiarity", and “exhibition".
“Experience" was the main factor of landscape cognition, and it can be differentiated between “direct experience" and “indirect experience". In this study, indirect experience was more effective because of abundant knowledgeable information and constructed image. The environmental and migrated experiences in childhood/teenage didn't have significant influence, but affected environmental cognition in other aspects. In this study, there was no significant relationship between preference and representativity because they were different concepts.
THE EFFECT OF EMOTION EXPERIENCE FROM DIFFERENT ENCLOSED ELEMENTS
Hsieng-Cheng Huang, Pei-Yi Weng, Chun-Yen Chang
The study used the different enclosed elements to understand the effect of the participants' emotion experience. Using the black-and-white pictures and an emotional experience scale, the study examined the participants' feeling about the different enclosed elements. The study chose brick wall, hedge, fence, and concrete wall as the enclosed elements. Also, this study used different height and visual permeability of each enclosure picture to find out the difference, and to examine the participants' preference and safety. The results showed that the different enclosed elements indeed make the participants have different feel of emotion experience, preference, and safety. The visual permeability of the enclosure has the effect on the preference and safety; however, the different enclosed elements will affect the participants have different feelings.
EXAMINING THE EFFECT OF AGRITOURISM TOURISTS' RELATIONSHIP BONDS TO SERVICE PROVIDERS ON LOYALTY
Chung-Hsien Lin, An-Na Li
The purposes of this study are both to examine whether or not the distinct types of loyal tourist exist and to explore loyal tourists have significantly different relationship bond. In this study the technique of on-site questionnaire survey is administered to collect samples. The results indicate that three types of loyal tourists including actual loyal tourists, attached loyal tourists, and convenient loyal tourists are identified and tourists' relationship bonds vary across three types of loyal tourists. The findings imply that four dimensions of loyalty should be seen as a theoretical framework. Namely, tourists display various types of loyalty depending on what tourism product they purchase. Furthermore, relationship bond can be seen as an important factor influencing tourist loyalty. This study suggests service providers should emphasize the concept of relationship bond when conducting tourists' loyalty programs.
VOL.15, NO.2
THE SCALE AND FACTOR ON GIRDLING ROOTS OF FICUS BENJAMINA IN TAICHUNG CITY
Chang Chin Yu
The main factor on girdling roots of Ficus benjamina in Taichung city is the narrow planting pits. Ficus benjamina in Taichung is easily encouraged to develope the girdling roots. Especially planting in the small planting pits usually do not have enough space for their root's development. Trees growing in small spaces are more subject to the girdling roots. Following the time, the scales of girdling roots are longer, wider and higher. The huge trees are more easily to produce the girdling roots in smaller planting pits. Girdling roots grow around the base of the trunk. As both root and trunk increase in size, the root chokes the trunk eventually. Physiologically, trees might slowly decline and die as a result of girdling roots. The purpose of this study is to investigate and to understand what are the factors affect the girdling roots of Ficus benjamina. This paper's result suggests that the managers of maintenance need to find the girdling roots and cut off them. At last, we talk about the preventing methods of girdling roots.
PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO THE PROSPECT- REFUGE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EDGE ENVIRONMENT
Su-Shin Lee, Yan-Li Wang
This research explored the emotional, cognitive and restoration of edge environment which affect the composition in providing a feature of prospect-refuge. Four kinds of edge environment type (prospect dominant, refuge dominant, refuge immediate symbolic, and distant refuge symbolic) were used to explore the relationships of participants' emotional (pleasure, arousal), cognitive (complexity, legibility, coherence, mystery, openness, safely) and restoration (being away, extent, fascination, compatibility). With two photos representing each type, the research utilized eight photos to test whether people have different emotional experience, cognitive factor, and restoration reactions affected by the types of edge environments, and how emotional experiences and cognitive factors influence the restoration reaction. The results show: (1) except being away in restoration, all types of edge environment in psychological response has significant differences. The prospect dominant type has the best response on the extent, legibility, coherence, and openness, which might be due to broader vision of viewers. In the refuge dominant type, fascination, compatibility, pleasure, arousal, and safety have stronger reactions than other factors. In refuge immediate symbolic type, complexity and mystery have stronger values. (2) The emotional and cognitive reactions show positive effects on restoration. Pleasure and legibility were the most powerful factors in all types of edge environment.
CHARACTERISTICS OF URBAN LANDSCAPE PATTERN IN CENTRAL CITIES
Chen-Fa Wu
The impact of urbanization on landscape pattern is one of the major issues on landscape ecology. Population is an important driving force for landscape pattern change in city area. Purpose of this study is to understand characteristics of urban landscape pattern in 32 cities in central Taiwan. Digital land use data in 1995 from department of Land Administration, Ministry of the Interior, was used to calculate eight landscape metrics by Fragstats in Arcview 3.2. Regression models were set to discuss relationship between population with eight landscape metrics. Then, cluster analysis was used to cluster similar cities base on landscape metrics. Findings from landscape metrics and cluster analysis revealed that urbanization, agriculture and mountain cities show large different landscape pattern. Moreover, metrics of number of patch and total edge at landscape-level and class-level at buildup and grass land showed strongest positively relate to population.
ANALYZING POTENTIAL SPOTS FOR PROMOTING PENGHU'S RESOURCES REGISTERED IN WORLD INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)
Ming-Ju Lee, Yu-Jung Lin
The purpose of this study is to construct the appropriate indicators to evaluate Penghu societal cultural traditions to register as world intangible cultural heritage in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This research adopts experts consulting conference and questionnaire methods to gather experts'viewpoints, as well as to observe residents'perception and attitude. A total of 30 experts from government, tourist industry, and academic scholars are consulted. The consultations start from November, 2007 to February, 2008.
The Modified Delphi method, AHP-level analysis and Expert Choice 11 software are utilized to appraise the weight of indicators. A TOPSIS questionnaire is designed to evaluate the appropriate programs to promote Penghu Intangible cultural inheritances. The priority of these programs are: Praising songs, Stone tidal weirs techniques , Traditional craftsman skills.
VOL.15, NO.1
THE DEBATED STREET TREES IN TAIWAN
Chang Chin Yu
Lately several years, Taiwan endeavored to plant street trees everywhere. The main roads were far as possible to plant street trees. Outdoor space was narrower resulting from urbanization. Inappropriate planting species brought much debate about environmental quality. Such as the root of Alstonia scholaris, Ficus microcarpa, and Ficus elastica damaged the hardscape to cause to stumble. A great deal cotton of Bombax ceiba polluted the environment. The flowers' foul smell of Sterculia foetida hard to breathe. The large dropping fruits and leaves of palm to hurt pedestrian and cars. These problems disturbed the near householders and the manager to maintain the street trees. This paper talk about the debated street trees, what were their dispute and the burden of maintenance in Taiwan. We will provide for planting designer's manager how to choose the appropriate street trees to reduce the problems in the future.
RESIDENTS' TAIPEI CITY IMAGE: A COMPARISON STUDY AMONG VARIED TRANSPORTATION USERS
Hui-Hsin Tseng, Hui-Mei Chen
The purposes of this research were mainly to study the formation of resident's city image of Taipei, to make a comparison of city image differences among three types of transportation users which included MRT passengers, bus passengers, as well as car drivers, and to examine the personal factors of city image formation. The method of Cognitive Map drafting was adopted. The result showed that landmarks and paths were the most important elements of Taipei city image. There were significant differences of city image among three transportation users. The life experiences and familiarity were the crucial factors of residents' city image formation. Furthermore, the residents' cognitive mapping was hierarchical. The anchor mapping is the primary drafting method however the path network mapping is the advanced drawing way.
AN EXPLORATION THE VALIDITY OF VIDEOS AS ENVIRONMENTAL SURROGATES
Shu-Chun L. Huang
As the application of environmental surrogates has been widely used for solving environmental related issues, researchers have begun to study the validity of surrogates. Basically human perception is multi-modal and motion is an essential aspect in perceptual
process. Therefore, a surrogate has to be able to represent the dynamic elements in the environment and more realistically reflect human environmental experience. The purpose of the study was to examine the validity of videos as environmental surrogates. The validity of videos was verified by comparing participants' perceptual responses to on-site and video situations.
The subjects were college students. The settings included a static environment (woods) and a dynamic environment (waterscape). The environmental assessments included participants' emotional, cognitive, and preference responses. The results indicated that the on-site subjects' emotional responses and preferences were significantly stronger than those of the video viewers in both static and dynamic environments. However, the on-site subjects' and the video viewers' cognitive responses did not show significant differences in either environment. Overall, the validity of videos as environmental surrogates was not supported in the study.
COGNITIONS AND ATTITUDES OF VISITORS ON PLANT SELECTION IN WULING AREA OF SHEI-PA NATIONAL PARK
Mei-Fen Lee, Ching-An Chiu, Sheng-Jung Ou
There are three management goals for national park included conservation, education and recreation, and research. But in order to consider conservation and recreation in the recreation area of national park, there are some conflicts with management. Wuling area is an important pivot of Shei-Pa National Park. The abundant biological and landscape resources make Wuling area as a key spot of conservation concern. Using native plants in planting plan is an important job in this particular area. Native plants could keep the ecology balanceable and conserved, but people always queried its effects of environment beautification and the feasibility of implementing. Thus, it results in many issues of the cognition conflict between different groups.
This research adopts a quantitative questionnaire to confer and analyze the cognition of tourists for the plant using in planting plan in national park. The subjects are the tourists who visited in Wuling area of Shei-Pa National Park. Acquired 871 samples during August to September 2008. The result shows that most of visitors agree with using native plants in landscape beautification in Wuling area. But for some particular function demands or some difficulties (such as not easy to obtain seedlings, high cost of cultivating and so on.), there are 50~60 percentage of visitors who concur on not using native plant. It means that if managers can solve the problems of seedling supply and provide species list for suitably varied function demand, the plan of using native plants in landscape plan will perform smoothly. There are significant correlations between the visitors' attitude toward using native plants in planting plan and their cognition of environmental attitude and national park knowledge. The related results can be provided for government as guidance when performing environment planning and management. Furthermore, this research will integrate other faces of researches to come up with practical strategies and procedures for the planting plan of landscape construction in national park.