Manipulation of dimensionality in landscape preference judgments: A quantitative validation∗

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Abstract
A Paired Comparison Methodology was used to scale preferences for landscapes depicted in 35mm color slides. Several S groups, varying in their familiarity with forestry, evaluated a series of photographically controlled forest scenes with various levels of insect damage. Some Ss were told a priori that insect damage was present (experimental), others were not (control). The objective was to see if experimental Ss would cue on a single “damage dimension” in their preference judgments, thus providing reliable interval measures of their preferences and estimates of esthetic impacts resulting from insect damage. Results of statistical tests indicate that dimensionality can be manipulated and that esthetic impacts can be measured as a result of changes in a specific landscape dimension.