Presence of Other People in Urban Parks: Exploring Psychological Effects Using Virtual Reality, Eye Tracking, and Qualitative Methods

Author

Shuai YuanFollow

Date of Award

8-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

Committee Chair/Advisor

Matthew H. E. M. Browning

Committee Member

Andrew T. Duchowski

Committee Member

Jeffrey Hallo

Committee Member

Matthew Nicolette

Abstract

Urban parks are essential public spaces that provide numerous benefits, but the presence of others can significantly influence these benefits. This dissertation explores the complex and context-dependent effects of the presence of other people on urban park experiences by drawing on diverse disciplinary perspectives and employing multiple methodological approaches, including theoretical synthesis, virtual reality, eye tracking, and qualitative methods.

Chapter 2 develops a comprehensive theoretical framework that bridges social psychology, environmental psychology, and practice-based fields. It categorizes the impacts of the presence of others on park users' experiences into perceptual, behavioral, cognitive-emotional, and symbolic domains. Chapter 3 utilizes virtual reality and eye-tracking to examine how visitor density affects visual attention and specific park experiences. Results indicate that higher visitor densities draw visual attention to people, and this change in attention can explain the impacts of density on willingness to visit. Chapter 4 adopts a qualitative approach to explore how diverse individuals perceive park functions and the influence of others on these functions. It identifies four broader park functions (being alone, appreciating nature, being with others, appreciating urban-cultural life) and reveals nuanced impacts of human presence, considering factors such as spatial layout, self-focused behavior of others, personal characteristics, and stress levels.

The dissertation concludes by discussing the complexities surrounding the impacts of others' presence in urban parks, emphasizing the need for developing a new concept beyond crowding, improving simulation methods, and addressing diverse individual preferences and situational norms.

Recommended Citation

Yuan, Shuai, "Presence of Other People in Urban Parks: Exploring Psychological Effects Using Virtual Reality, Eye Tracking, and Qualitative Methods" (2024). All Dissertations. 3741.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/3741

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0003-3119-7902