Measuring Sense of Place: Methodological Aspects

Abstract

The main concern of this paper is to classify the different methods of measurement of sense of place (which is a very vague concept). The existence and intensity of sense of place is also related to social and cultural variables, such as ethnic and religious background. This paper reviews the different methods of measuring sense of place and classifies them according to different criteria. The study applies a bipolar (positive and negative level of attachment), unidimensional scale which is composed of one component of scaling, using a 'direct' technique. The results point to similarities and differences between Israeli-born and immigrant groups. Most of the respondents in both groups had similar patterns of positive feelings towards the place where they live. The differences were smaller than the similarities. The sense of place scale applied in this study has the advantage of being a simple tool that is understandable to all types of respondents. Copyright (c) 2005 by the Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG.

Problems in Place: Using Discursive Social Psychology to Investigate the Meanings of Seasonal Homes

“…Such scales are designed primarily to identify individual differences in degree of attachment and are not as well suited, nor necessarily intended, to identify complex patterns or social construction of meanings assigned to place by individuals or groups (Stokowski, 2008). Although exploring both of these ideas simultaneously and even additional ideas about place such as the social and political processes that construct and contest them is possible, a common pattern in the literature has been to operationalize place meanings or sense of place using measurement approaches conceptually better suited to measuring place attachment (Jorgensen & Stedman, 2001Shamai & Ilatov, 2005). How these attachments are supposed to add up to sense of place or constitute the meanings of place gets shortchanged in such efforts (Stokowski, 2008;Williams & Patterson, 2007).…”

The Identification of Residents with their Region and the Continuity of Socio-Historical Development / Identifikace Obyvatel Se Svým Regionem A Kontinuita Socio-Historického Vývoje

“…The measurement of the phenomenon is then unnecessary (Lewis, 1979). On the other hand, there are researchers (Shamai, 1991;Shamai, Kellerman, 1985;Shamai, Ilatov, 2005) who are influenced by positivist approaches and who try to measure and consequently categorise the levels of process of identification with the region. This paper lies somewhere in between these two approaches.…”

Rasa Kelekatan Anak Pada Ruang Publik Terpadu Ramah Anak (Rptra)

“…Tingkat kelekatan anak terhadap RPTRA diukur dengan menggunakan 12 kriteria. Masing-masing kriteria dipresentasikan dalam bentuk struktur semipolar yang diadaptasi dari Shamai and Ilatov [28]. Setiap kriteria dijawab oleh anak dengan memilih jawaban sikap positif "ya", "biasa saja", dan "tidak".…”