Investigating the role of landmarks in the wayfinding behavior of children 10-14 with emphasis on emotional intelligence (Case study of Sajjad neighborhood)

Document Type : Scientific-Research

Authors

Shima Abedi ¹

Toktam Hanaee ²

¹ Ph.D. Candidate in Urban Planning, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

² Associate Professor of Urban Planning, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jgusd.2023.74509.1154

Abstract

Children's preferences—such as attention, perception, processing, and decision-making about environmental cues—play a significant role in their interaction with urban spaces. Therefore, paying attention to their perception and wayfinding behavior is essential in urban design and planning. Children navigate using information from the environment, and landmarks are one of the guiding tools in navigating children in urban spaces. This study aims to investigate the role of landmarks in the wayfinding behavior of children aged 10-14, focusing on emotional intelligence in Sajjad neighborhood. The research method is applied in terms of purpose and is survey-based in nature with data collected through field observations, questionnaires, and site visits. The statistical population is 1310 people, with a sample size of 297 determined through random sampling and Cochran’s formula. Data analysis and evaluation of landmarks impacts on the wayfinding process, with emphasis on emotional intelligence, were analyzed using statistical methods, including one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), dependent t-test, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The results indicate that children 10-12 years old pay attention to the building size and form in the wayfinding process, while children aged 14-12 also pay attention to the characteristics of contrast, prominence, and uniqueness of buildings. Additionally, children with higher emotional intelligence focus more on landmarks in the wayfinding process than other children. Younger children tend to have relatively lower emotional intelligence than older children and make less use of the visual features of landmarks in wayfinding.

Keywords

Keywords: Children

wayfinding

Sajjad neighborhood

Landmarks

Emotional intelligence

Subjects

• urban planinnin

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©2024 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

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