An exploration of relationships among the responses to natural scenes: scenic beauty, preference, and restoration

This study argues that although scenic beauty, preference, and restoration are correlated due to their functional significance over evolution, they still can be distinguished from one another within natural landscapes. A total of 274 undergraduate students reported their responses with scenic beauty, preference, and restoration as the target variables while viewing 48 landscape slides of six biomes. In addition, a group of three judges evaluated three physical features presented in the landscape slides as controlling and descriptor variables, described as 'complexity,' 'openness,' and 'water features.' Statistical analyses showed that (a) the three target variables were all significantly and highly (rs > 0.94, p < 0.05) correlated; (b) the only mediated relationship among the target variables was preference mediating scenic beauty and restoration; and (c) scenic beauty and preference versus restoration could be distinguished from each other with respect to the types of natural landscapes and the three physical features.