| The forest edge, the visual boundary between forest and meadow, has been the focus of much research into aesthetic response and human preference. The inability to control for numerous variables systematically with photographic techniques has limited the effective comparison of competing theories of preference in previous studies. The current study employed 3D computer modeling and digital imaging in order to create 42 simulated forest/meadow edge environments. This approach facilitated a much higher degree of control over study variables than was previously possible.;In each of seven slide categories (each containing six slides) only one study variable was altered from a baseline case. Four were variations of Ruddell and Hammitt's (1987) interpretation of Appleton's (1975) Prospect Refuge theory. As such, cameras were positioned at varying distances from the forest/meadow edge. Human features were added to two categories in the form of 'hard' and 'soft' paths, based in part on Wohlwill's (1979) concept of 'fittingness'. The seventh variation introduced increased foreground diversity, based in part on Kaplan and Kaplan's (1989a) concept of 'complexity'.;Using survey techniques, 133 students at the University of Western Ontario rated the slides for aesthetic, recreational and residential preference, on a five-point Likert-type scale. Positions within the forest edge were significantly preferable to positions farther from the edge in all categories. Results also indicated that preference was generally highest when slides were rated aesthetically. Hard paths were significantly preferable to dirt paths, although slides without any path were preferable to both. Finally, past experience revealed significant effects on preference for many slide categories, as did gender.;Notably, the application of digital imaging proved highly effective as a means of control over the study variables. The image manipulation process developed for this study ran efficiently, and a high degree of 'image realism' was achieved. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
