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Landscape aesthetics: Assessing the general publics’ rural landscape preferences
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2011
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Howley, P. (2011) Landscape aesthetics: Assessing the general publics’ rural landscape preferences. RERC Working Paper Series PUT 11-WP-RE-05
Abstract
The central aim of this study was to gain greater insights into the factors that
affect individuals’ preferences for a variety of landscape settings. To achieve this aim,
this paper derived dependent variables (based on a factor analysis of respondents
mean ratings of 47 landscape images) representing 5 different landscape categories.
These variables were then utilized in separate OLS regression models to examine the
effect of personal characteristics, residential location and environmental value
orientations on landscape preferences. First in terms of visual amenity the results
suggest that the general public have the strongest preference for landscapes with water
related features as its dominant attribute which was followed by cultural landscapes.
Second the results also demonstrate how there is significant heterogeneity in
landscape preferences as both personal characteristics and environmental value
orientations were found to strongly influence preferences for all the landscape types
examined. Moreover the effect of these variables often differed significantly across
the various landscape groupings. In terms of land use policy, given the diversity of
preferences a one size fits all approach will not meet the general publics’ needs and
desires.