An Investigation into Student Perceptions of Green Spaces on Dalhousie’s Studley Campus
Date
2024-04
Authors
Cantelo, Sophie
Mesburis, Julia
Tolson, Emma
Bonn, Jackson
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Abstract
Landscaping holds significant importance on university campuses and has traditionally
aimed to enhance the visual appeal of environments. Green space, as it refers to natural areas and
vegetation, as well as urban parks located on university campuses, plays a crucial role in creating
a natural environment (Taylor & Hochuli, 2017). We investigated student perceptions of green
space, specifically within the Studley campus of Dalhousie University. Our objectives included
gauging whether students consider green space as an important aspect of their on-campus wellbeing
and if they might feel more inclined to spend time on campus green spaces if
improvements were made to these areas. By examining how green space is perceived and used,
we aimed to ascertain a collective viewpoint among students regarding its significance.
We used a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to gather data from
undergraduate and graduate students on the Studley campus. Quantitatively, we used Likert scale
questions and conducted Chi-square analyses to classify opinions regarding green space
perception and utility. For qualitative insights, we distributed surveys to answer more open-ended
questions on green space perception and utility. Additionally, we used ArcGIS and SketchUp as
tools to further enhance our research findings. Overall, the integration of quantitative and
qualitative methods, along with visualization tools, has allowed us to understand student
perceptions of green space regarding the Studley campus of Dalhousie University.
Description
Environmental Problem Solving II: The Campus as a Living Laboratory Student Papers