Preferences for Recreational Environments: Theoretical Considerations and a Comparison of Models

Abstract

Environments were conceptualized as providing a context within which valued psychological attributes could be experienced. Environmental preferences under this general theory were defined to be a function of evaluative and cognitive assessments of an environment's psychological attributes. Since previous research was unclear as to the exact nature and validity of the evaluative assessments, four models of environmental preferences were investigated. The models differed in their inclusion or exclusion of evaluative assessments. Data were collected to implement and compare the four models using survey methodology. The model that distinguished between rewarding and costly psychological attributes was found to be most useful in explaining environmental preferences. The remaining three models were less comprehensive in their explanation of preferences. Finally, the reward‐cost distinction was discussed as being important in the understanding of environmental quality.

Key words:

• environmental preference
• rewards and costs
• paired comparisons method
• regression‐correlation methods
• expectancy‐valence models