Situations and Vandalisms: Using Defensible Space Theory to Analyze the Situational Factors of Vandalism on Picnic Table

• Main Authors: Chang-Lin Chen, 陳昶霖
• Other Authors: Tzeng-Hua Yang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/12924415407766849027

碩士 === 中國文化大學 === 觀光事業研究所 === 96 === Past studies of vandalisms seem more focus on visitors’ internal factors, such as environmental attitudes and their motivations of vandalisms. Comparatively, few literatures are available which study the external factors, such as the designs and management intensity of recreation areas as well as situational factors of vandalism and environment cues. However, for recreation institutions, it should be much easier to change the designs and managements intensity of their recreation areas than to enhance visitors’ environmental attitudes and/or social responsibility. The primary data of this study was gathered using an experimental design and 5 qualitative in-depth interviews. Three hundreds and fifty nine wood-made picnic tables of four campgrounds in northern Taiwan were the objects of this study. The objective was to analyze which situational factors might cause new carvings on the picnic tables. The 10 situational factors were designed according to the Defensible Space Theory, which combined by territoriality, natural surveillance, image and milieu. The analysis consisted of standard statistical summary, T-test, Pearson’s Chi-square Test, ANOVA and a multi-regression analysis. Five additional qualitative interviews with the managers of campgrounds were conducted in order to further our understanding of the subject and help to explain the findings of this research. The results suggest that an effective approach to eliminate vandalism might be to create an environment that is less suitable towards vandalism. Recreation areas should be well-designed, which include providing enough formal and natural surveillance, as suitably set ranger centers and closer distance from the trail, enhance frequency of use. The occurrence of new curving on tables was significantly related to the presence of previous carving, suggest management should as well as quickly repair damaged equipments.