تحقيقات جغرافيايی (Apr 2019)
Evaluative Image Model in Perception of the Environment;Case Study of Bushehr City, Iran
Abstract
Aims & Backgrounds: In todaychr('39')s competitive world, cities are increasingly concerned about their identity, image, and value and in this regard, creating a favorable environment to attracting different social classes is one of the objectives of city managers and planners. This can only be achieved when what the city presents (identity), what is perceived (image) and its evaluation by users (the evaluative image), what makes a pleasant or unpleasant feeling from a place (meaning) and what that presents the comprehensive image to be discovered and interpreted and be the fundamental basis for practice of urban planners and managers. The present study aimed to explain the image model especially the evaluative mental image of Bushehr city, theoretically. Methodology: This qualitative study was conducted exploratory through a combined method of library studies (theoretical) and field and survey studies (interviews) based on a semi-structured questionnaire with open-ended questions. Considering the needs for data saturation, 90 residents of Bushehr city were interviewed in several stages. Findings: The beach line, historical district, Rishahr park and Tv park had the positive evaluation and the informal settlements, Taleqani, Sangi and Ashoori streets had the negative evaluation from the views of people. Conclusion: The mental image is composed of two primary and secondary components or two complementary components, which by their perceiving, people achieve the evaluative judgment of the environment and it shapes their comprehensive or holistic mental image.
