The role of environmental perceptions in sense of place: Case studies of neighborhoods in Phoenix, Arizona

Sense of Place can be defined as a relationship to place, a way of thinking of a place or experiencing a biophysical and cultural place. Terms such as rootedness, bondedness, place attachment, place dependence and place identity have been used by geographers to explain the phenomenon of Sense of Place. This dissertation uses a case-study method to explore ways in which Sense of Place may be explained with the help of various dimensions of place (type of neighborhood, satisfaction, identity, environmental quality, quality of life, community, attachment, belonging, beauty) in the neighborhood context and the role of open space in Sense of Place in neighborhoods.; Low income, middle income and high income neighborhoods within the Phoenix metropolitan area are selected based on independent variables, namely density, cultural diversity, physical location and economic level. Two case-study neighborhoods in three different contexts; inner city, urban edge and rural edge are further selected and analyzed in each income group using interviewing techniques.; In lower income neighborhoods, Sense of Place is best explained by the respondent's defined sense of neighborhood and the social cohesiveness that exists between neighbors due to their length of stay in the neighborhood or due to the influence of ethnicity. In middle income neighborhoods, Sense of Place is best explained by the respondents defined sense of neighborhood, their sense of belonging to the neighborhood as they feel personal involvement in its upkeep, the strong identity created by elements such as a central park and a community center and sense of community due to the active neighborhood association and block watch groups that exist within the neighborhood. In higher income neighborhoods, Sense of Place is best explained by the respondents defined sense of neighborhood expressed by the concept of a gated community, the neighborhoods strong identity resulting from their perceived image of the neighborhood being resort-like and its aesthetic appeal.; The research finds a new dimension to the concept of Sense of Place in a transient modern western society. Despite being highly dissatisfied with the neighborhood, due to lack of basic amenities, the lower income residents have a more experiential Sense of Place that is defined by one's personal experiences in the neighborhood. The middle income group residents define their Sense of Place emotionally by deep involvement in the community, while the higher income group residents share a perceptual Sense of Place that is defined by a neighborhood's image and aesthetic appeal. The in-depth qualitative analysis also reveals that open spaces, defined by respondents as landscaped parks/yards/streets are preferred across all socio-economic backgrounds for a Sense of Place in neighborhoods.