This article reports seven new, original findings, based on 4 experiments, 56 environmental scenes, and 71 participants, on how the factors of area over which one could walk (boundary height, boundary porosity, and boundary proximity) influence perceived spaciousness or enclosure. Perceived spaciousness was most strongly related by the area over…

Presents a methodological attempt to discover the fundamental semantic dimensions underlying people's perceptions of the physical environment, applying both nonverbal and verbal techniques. Analyses reveal three significant dimensions upon which people base their judgments of the physical environment: evaluation, urbanization, and organization.…

In a study using 200 undergraduates, results indicated that approach toward an environment and the desire to affiliate there are influenced by the emotion-eliciting quality of that environment. (Author/MA)

In order to understand the dynamic influences of the physical environment on seating behavior, a longitudinal study was made of seating choices in the reading area of a university library. Based on analysis, a predictive model was outlined that extrapolates observed behavior in a space to new environmental settings. (BL)

Discusses research on man-environment relations and initiates the process of formulating a research paradigm for studying environmental moves and readjustments. Uses a renovated academic center as a specimen case. (JR)

Concepts derived from general man-environment system (MES) models are applied to the specific problem of nomadic sedentarization. The analysis focuses on the manner in which residential mobility may function as a central element in nomadic cultures. (Author/MA)

Presents hypotheses generated from observational data from schools in Newfoundland and Jamaica on how certain physical conditions in classrooms encourage disorderly behavior there. (JR)

Reviews 15 years of concentrated research on environmental cognition, including recent developments in theory construction. Includes discussion on the content of environmental representations, cognitive mapping, environmental meaning and symbolism, differences due to characteristics of the physical environment, and the role of environmental…

This study assessed whether slides of lighting arrangements could adequately simulate results from real space. Data indicated that in many important respects the results for the slides matched those for the real space for ratings on semantic differential scales, but that less consistent results were obtained for multidimensional scaling.…

Three general strategies were used to generate six interventions to decrease lawn walking in a park. While none of the three strategies appeared generally superior, some interventions were more effective than others. Another intervention, designed independently by professional planners, was also evaluated and shown to increase lawn walking…