Exploring the Influence of the Visual Attributes of Kaplan’s Preference Matrix in the Assessment of Urban Parks: A Discrete Choice Analysis

Shayestefar, Marjan; Pazhouhanfar, Mahdieh; van Oel, C.J.; Grahn, Patrik

doi:10.3390/su14127357

Exploring the Influence of the Visual Attributes of Kaplan’s Preference Matrix in the Assessment of Urban Parks

Title

Exploring the Influence of the Visual Attributes of Kaplan’s Preference Matrix in the Assessment of Urban Parks: A Discrete Choice Analysis

Author

Shayestefar, Marjan (Golestan University)
Pazhouhanfar, Mahdieh (Golestan University)
van Oel, C.J. (TU Delft Design & Construction Management)
Grahn, Patrik (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

Date

2022

Abstract

A significant majority of the literature on natural environments and urban green spaces justifies the preferences that people have for natural environments using four predictors defined by Kaplan’s preference matrix theory, namely coherence, legibility, complexity, and mystery. However, there are no studies implicitly focusing on the visual attributes assigned to each of these four predictors. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the influence of nine visual attributes derived from the four predictors of Kaplan’s matrix on people’s preferences in the context of urban parks. A discrete choice experiment was used to obtain responses from a sample of 396 students of Golestan University. Students randomly evaluated their preferences towards a set of potential scenarios with urban park images. The results of a random parameter logit analysis showed that all of the attributes of complexity (variety of elements, number of colors, and organization of elements) and one attribute each of coherence (uniformity), mystery (visual access), and legibility (distinctive elements) affect students’ choices for urban parks, while one attribute each of mystery (physical access) and legibility (wayfinding) did not affect the choices. Furthermore, the results indicated a preference for heterogeneity of the attributes. The findings of this study can provide instructions for designing parks.

Subject

information processing theory
landscape design
multinomial logit model
predictors of preference

To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:cde47057-8994-4f86-9e08-c487452526f6

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127357

ISSN

2071-1050

Source

Sustainability, 14 (12)

Part of collection

Institutional Repository