ABSTRACT
The environment in which we live and work includes both a social and a physical component. Yet, because of the nature of professional study, there appears to be an arbitrary division between the two. One of the problems of integrating the two dimensions stems from the problems in social science practice, which attempts to investigate people's perceptions of the environment without structuring those perceptions. But, in fact, quite often the questions used in an interview organize and influence the perceptions of those interviewed. Images used to represent the environment consider certain visual features as sources of aesthetic value. These values, such as visual quality, are not only a natural resource, but often the basis for public policy initiatives. The importance of visual quality has been recognized by such initiatives as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Coastal Zone Management Act, as well as architectural review boards, downtown improvement associations, and other organizations.
