Thesis
Benchmarks: Sensing therapeutic landscape qualities associated with seating choice on Terrell Mall on the Washington State University campus
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2006
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/512
Abstract
Outdoor public spaces in urban settings have potential to be restorative places for visitors. Although programmed differently than therapeutic gardens in healthcare settings, which focus on promoting well-being in patients living with specific physical and psychological conditions, outdoor public spaces in non-healthcare settings can be evaluated based on perceptions of therapeutic landscape qualities. This study sought to elucidate shifts in perception ratings of therapeutic landscape qualities by users of Terrell Mall, at Washington State University, as a result of an installation of movable chairs at the study site. During Scenario 1, October 14-18, 2005, one hundred respondents made perception ratings while using stationary seating already present at the study site. During Scenario 2, October 21-27, 2005, sixty-one respondents made perception ratings while using movable chairs placed at the study site by the investigator. A questionnaire, developed for this study, was used to gauge the proportion of respondents in both scenarios that gave positive, neutral, and negative responses regarding seating and therapeutic landscape qualities. A test of proportions was performed using computed z-values in comparison with tabulated test z-values to determine whether significant rating shifts occurred from Scenario 1 to Scenario 2. The results of this study indicate that use of movable chairs at the study site was associated with positive shifts in perceptions of seating comfort, landscape maintenance, personal safety, positive memorable impressions of the site, and beauty of the site. A negative shift in perceptions of control over where respondents could sit associated with the use of movable chairs was contrary to previous research and raised questions about user awareness of control and site layout that might confound chair placement. Respondents who felt positively about control were nearly three times more likely to relocate chairs a distance greater than one chair width than those who felt neutrally or negatively about control. These results imply that the inclusion of movable chairs in public space design programs may positively shift user perceptions of therapeutic landscape qualities overall, perhaps allowing users a more restorative experience in that space.
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Details
- Title
- Benchmarks
- Creators
- Mario Mariano Martin
- Contributors
- Jolie B. Kaytes (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Horticulture, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525024701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis