The Role of Spatial Familiarity in Visual Perception: An Investigation in Protected Landscapes in Cappadocia

Meliha Aklıbaşında

Makale detayları

The Role of Spatial Familiarity in Visual Perception: An Investigation in Protected Landscapes in Cappadocia

Yazarlar:

Meliha Aklıbaşında

Yayıncı:

Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar:

Ziraat Mühendisliği (Diğer)

Dergi:

Research in Agricultural Sciences Vol.56 Issue 3, pp.200-211

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354398

pISSN:

2979-9686

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Visual perception is one of the main elements that shape the visitor experience in tourism and recreation activities. The Cappadocia Region, where natural and cultural landscape elements form a unique integrity, has a strong visual appeal at the universal level in this respect. In this study, the perceptual effects of different landscape types of Cappadocia on individuals were examined; the role of individual variables such as spatial familiarity, settlement and visit history on perception was evaluated. Methodologically, the study consisted of 1 photographing the characteristic landscapes of the region, 2 selecting photographs with diverse content, 3 administering a questionnaire to 120 participants in order to evaluate these images in terms of scenic beauty, tranquility, attractiveness and excitement, and 4 statistically analyzing the data. The findings revealed that Cappadocia has a strong aesthetic and emotional impact on the participants with its natural landscapes as well as its cultural landscape elements. However, it was also found that locals evaluated certain landscapes more positively and that spatial familiarity and emotional connection created significant differences in the perception of tranquility and beauty. Moreover, individuals who had visited the region before, developed a deeper and more meaningful perception of some images. The results point to the importance of developing holistic planning strategies that are sensitive to user profiles and consider perceptual differences in areas with unique landscapes such as Cappadocia. They also emphasize the need to integrate visual perception into tourism planning and promotion processes.

 Visual perception is one of the main elements that shape the visitor experience in tourism and recreation activities. The Cappadocia Region, where natural and cultural landscape elements form a unique integrity, has a strong visual appeal at the universal level in this respect. In this study, the perceptual effects of different landscape types of Cappadocia on individuals were examined; the role of individual variables such as spatial familiarity, settlement and visit history on perception was evaluated. Methodologically, the study consisted of 1 photographing the characteristic landscapes of the region, 2 selecting photographs with diverse content, 3 administering a questionnaire to 120 participants in order to evaluate these images in terms of scenic beauty, tranquility, attractiveness and excitement, and 4 statistically analyzing the data. The findings revealed that Cappadocia has a strong aesthetic and emotional impact on the participants with its natural landscapes as well as its cultural landscape elements. However, it was also found that locals evaluated certain landscapes more positively and that spatial familiarity and emotional connection created significant differences in the perception of tranquility and beauty. Moreover, individuals who had visited the region before, developed a deeper and more meaningful perception of some images. The results point to the importance of developing holistic planning strategies that are sensitive to user profiles and consider perceptual differences in areas with unique landscapes such as Cappadocia. They also emphasize the need to integrate visual perception into tourism planning and promotion processes.

 Visual perception is one of the main elements that shape the visitor experience in tourism and recreation activities. The Cappadocia Region, where natural and cultural landscape elements form a unique integrity, has a strong visual appeal at the universal level in this respect. In this study, the perceptual effects of different landscape types of Cappadocia on individuals were examined; the role of individual variables such as spatial familiarity, settlement and visit history on perception was evaluated. Methodologically, the study consisted of 1 photographing the characteristic landscapes of the region, 2 selecting photographs with diverse content, 3 administering a questionnaire to 120 participants in order to evaluate these images in terms of scenic beauty, tranquility, attractiveness and excitement, and 4 statistically analyzing the data. The findings revealed that Cappadocia has a strong aesthetic and emotional impact on the participants with its natural landscapes as well as its cultural landscape elements. However, it was also found that locals evaluated certain landscapes more positively and that spatial familiarity and emotional connection created significant differences in the perception of tranquility and beauty. Moreover, individuals who had visited the region before, developed a deeper and more meaningful perception of some images. The results point to the importance of developing holistic planning strategies that are sensitive to user profiles and consider perceptual differences in areas with unique landscapes such as Cappadocia. They also emphasize the need to integrate visual perception into tourism planning and promotion processes.

 Görsel algı, turizm ve rekreasyon faaliyetlerinde ziyaretçi deneyimini şekillendiren temel unsurlardan biridir. Doğal ve kültürel peyzaj öğelerinin özgün bir bütünlük oluşturduğu Kapadokya Bölgesi, bu açıdan evrensel düzeyde güçlü bir görsel çekiciliğe sahiptir. Bu çalışmada, Kapadokyaya ait farklı manzara türlerinin bireyler üzerindeki algısal etkileri incelenmiş; özellikle mekânsal aşinalık, yerleşim yeri ve ziyaret geçmişi gibi bireysel değişkenlerin algı üzerindeki rolü değerlendirilmiştir. Yöntemsel olarak çalışma; 1 bölgenin karakteristik peyzajlarının fotoğraflanması, 2 içerik bakımından çeşitlilik taşıyan 21 fotoğrafın seçilmesi, 3 bu görsellerin manzara güzelliği, huzur vericilik, ilgi çekicilik ve heyecan vericilik boyutlarında değerlendirilmesi amacıyla 120 katılımcıya anket uygulanması ve 4 verilerin istatistiksel olarak analiz edilmesi aşamalarını içermektedir. Bulgular, Kapadokyanın doğal peyzajları başta olmak üzere kültürel peyzaj öğeleriyle de katılımcılar üzerinde güçlü bir estetik ve duygusal etki yarattığını ortaya koymuştur. Bununla birlikte, yerel halkın belirli manzaraları daha olumlu değerlendirdiği ve mekânsal aşinalık ile duygusal bağın özellikle huzur ve güzellik algısı üzerinde anlamlı farklar yarattığı saptanmıştır. Ayrıca, bölgeyi daha önce ziyaret eden bireylerin bazı görsellere yönelik daha derinlikli ve anlamlı bir algı geliştirdiği belirlenmiştir. Sonuçlar, Kapadokya gibi özgün peyzajlara sahip alanlarda, kullanıcı profillerine duyarlı ve algısal farklılıkları gözeten bütüncül planlama stratejilerinin geliştirilmesinin önemine işaret etmektedir. Ayrıca, görsel algının turizm planlama ve tanıtım süreçlerine entegre edilmesinin gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır.

Makale detayları

The Role of Spatial Familiarity in Visual Perception: An Investigation in Protected Landscapes in Cappadocia

Yazarlar:

Meliha Aklıbaşında

Yayıncı:

Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar:

Ziraat Mühendisliği (Diğer)

Dergi:

Research in Agricultural Sciences Vol.56 Issue 3, pp.200-211

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354398

pISSN:

2979-9686

Cultural heritage

Natural heritage

Nevşehir

Tourism destination

Visual landscape qualityKültürel miras

Doğal miras

Nevşehir

Turizm Destinasyonu

Görsel peyzaj kalitesi

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Meliha Aklıbaşında

Yayıncı: Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar: Ziraat Mühendisliği (Diğer)

Dergi: Research in Agricultural Sciences Vol.56 Issue 3, pp.200-211

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 9/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001354398

pISSN: 2979-9686

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Meliha Aklıbaşında

Yayıncı:

Ataturk University

Ana Başlıklar:

Ziraat Mühendisliği (Diğer)

Dergi:

Research in Agricultural Sciences Vol.56 Issue 3, pp.200-211

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354398

pISSN:

2979-9686