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Improving the composition and terminology of perceived restorativeness (Soundscape) scales
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Guastavino , Catherine and Payne, Sarah R. (2010) Improving the composition and terminology of perceived restorativeness (Soundscape) scales. In: IAPS 21 International Association for People-Environment Studies, Leipzig, Germany, 27 Jun- 2 Jul 2010
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Official URL: http://www.iaps-association.org/
Abstract
Perceived Restorativeness Scales consist of items measuring the perception of four Attention Restoration Theory (ART) components considered important for creating a restorative environment and enabling a restorative experience. They are useful tools to assess individuals’ consideration of a place as potentially facilitating psychological restoration. In line with self reports, and attentional and physiological measures, Perceived Restorativeness Scales identify urban environments as potentially less restorative than natural environments. As urban populations grow and compact city designs can sometimes leave little space for pockets of ‘natural’ environments, the design and planning of the remaining green spaces and other urban spaces is crucial for psychological restoration. To evaluate the success of different designs, the ability to measure differences in the perceived restorativeness of places within the same environment type (e.g. urban) is necessary. For this, the exact meaning and interpretation of scale items becomes increasingly important. Unfortunately, the language often used in scales reflects the researcher’s interpretation and understanding of the relevant concepts, potentially creating items considered strange by the general layperson that is unfamiliar with the concepts being explored. This study therefore sought to examine laypeople’s comprehension of Perceived Restorativeness Scales, alongside its ability to be translated into a Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale. Items from two Perceived Restorativeness Scales and a Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale were collated. The grammatical structure of each sentence was examined, noting the adjectives or verbs used to describe each component (e.g. fascinating, discover), the presence of personal pronouns (e.g. I, me), the aspects or location under discussion (e.g. things, setting), and the manner in which the component was being evoked (e.g. as a process, as a feeling). Differences existed between the composition of the items depending on the ART component being assessed, as well as within and between items developed by different authors. The reasons for the absence or presence of certain grammatical structures for individual items for each ART component were unclear. Did certain sentence compositions only make sense when referring to a particular aspect of an ART component? Does one sentence composition apply when considering one ART component but not for another component? To begin answering such questions, a systematic procedure was implemented to create new items, to ensure all styles of each previously used sentence compositions were available. Furthermore, duplicate items were developed to create items relating to sounds and soundscapes that matched the items relating to elements and places in general. From this, items representing each of the different sentence compositions were chosen to form two sets of near identical scales, one containing general items (Perceived Restorativeness Scale) and one containing sound specific items (Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale). English speaking laypeople in Montreal, Canada, will complete the scales and describe their interpretation and understanding of the items, followed by an interview probing their comprehension of individual words, sentence structures and the concepts in general. Results from the initial examination of the items grammar and the ensuing interviews will be reported. Comparisons between the comprehension of a general Perceived Restorativeness Scale and the more specific Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale will also be examined.
Item Type: | Conference Item (Other) | ||||
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Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Engineering > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group) | ||||
Official Date: | 2010 | ||||
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Status: | Not Peer Reviewed | ||||
Conference Paper Type: | Other | ||||
Title of Event: | IAPS 21 International Association for People-Environment Studies | ||||
Type of Event: | Conference | ||||
Location of Event: | Leipzig, Germany | ||||
Date(s) of Event: | 27 Jun- 2 Jul 2010 |
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