Communicating Behavioral Research to Campus Design

Abstract

This article focuses on the study of outdoor spaces at the University of Jordan located in Amman, the capital of Jordan. The objective is to assess user perceptions and patterns of outdoor space use. This researcher used a qualitative approach to gain insights into aspects of human-environment intersections. The present study analyzed a qualitative data set on decision choices to visit an outdoor campus area. The aim was to determine whether meanings and significance existed. A total of 140 participants including students, faculty, and administrative staff made a series of choices concerning outdoor spaces that they would visit. Following the interviews, this researcher inspected the most frequented 10 open spaces, as mentioned by the participants, and recorded the physical features that were noted to be related to use of the space. Findings of this study revealed that outdoor spaces between university buildings are focal points in student everyday behavior. Designers of outdoor spaces need to keep abreast of current research in the area of environmental behavior and environmental perception, and many design principles need to be formulated in terms of current knowledge in these fields.