Dimensions in the perception of architecture:II. Measures of exploratory behavior

Four experiments were conducted with 20 slides of buildings representing major architectural styles. The purpose of the experiments was to determine interrelations of verbal and non-verbal measures. The experiments were concerned with: (1) Looking Time, (2) Reward Value, (3) Judgments indicative of Exploratory Tendencies, and (4) Exploratory Choice. The findings were consistent with previous studies in experimental aesthetics. It was concluded that exploratory reactions to the architectural environment may be expressed in at least two types of behavior. First, exploratory behavior was found to be related to perceptual curiosity aroused by a building. Secondly, behavior could be predicted from the hedonic aspects of the building. These two underlying variables were also found to merge frequently.