ABSTRACT
The development and application of Perceived Environmental Quality Indices are pertinent. The amount of variance in on-site observer evaluations of visibility quality that can be accounted for by predictive models is likely to be severely constrained by limits to current scientific knowledge and technology. This chapter shows how role theoretical analysis can help to delineate the relation of scenic quality to visitors' experiences and highlights the complexities entailed in arriving at management decisions guided by the considerations. Within the framework of role theory, the psychological sets of the perceiver of landscapes are structured by the role of scenic observer which the individual enacts when touring the countryside. Many specific roles can be delineated within the category of scenic observer. A taxonomy of scenic roles would have to include the role of observer of romantic landscape, which places more emphasis upon the impact of scenery on the emotions and imagination.
