Acta carsologica, XXV (1996) 
Ines Ožbolt 
MENTAL PERCEPTION OF THE KARST 
From the work in the project of Notranjski Park the difference between 
general perception in a certain area and the perception of same area on 
individual levels is clearly evident. 
Where spatial managment or planning is concerned the mental image is 
ignored, although it is well known that the particular image is of vital 
importance for the people living in the area. This is the main reason that we 
propose the preliminary study of the perception of the place from the point of 
view of the inhabitants and visitors before any planning procedures take place. 
The perception in one of the basic functions of mans orientation in a place 
and has great impact. Its importance should be considered in the procedure 
of physical planning. 
The identity of territory has impacts on visual and sensual perception of 
specific area. 
The Notranjski Park has great diversity of landscapes and is interesting 
either for research or exploration in the view of professionals responsible for 
the establishment of the Park. The project begins with the testing of karst 
landscape. One method is used for the entire area of Notranjski Park. We 
intend to determine, weather the karst, as a land, has an identity of it is own 
which is different from the identity of other regions both in the natura! and 
social point of view. We intend to determine, whether the people of this 
region differentiate their home from other landscapes both visualy and 
mentally. It also concerns us, how karst is interpreted by the natives and the 
tourists and what are the differences between the impressions of professionals 
and others. 
The participants of the International Karstological School will be asked to 
fill in questionnaires on recognition and mental image of the karst. They will 
represent the first pilot group, the one representing professionals, second 
group are visitors, the third are indigenous people. 
Task of the project: 
- to establish the existence or non-existence of difference between mental 
image of the karst phenomena and other geological features and areas. 
- to establish which are basic expressions interconnecting the karst as such 
and the karst phenomena, 
- to establish the mental image of the Notranjski Park according to their 
professional experience and knowledge, 
- to evaluate the karst as the place of pleasant or non-pleasant experiance, 
- to establish which elements of the karst are the most important for its 
recognition; elements of macro-reliefs or micro-reliefs, 
40 
Ines Ožbolt: Mental perception of the Karst 
- to establish the existence or non-existence of differences between mental 
images among three pilot groups. 
Method used: 
l. "knowledge questionnaire" (open and closed questions) 
2. scales of measures for cognition (semantic differental) 
3. association test 
4. photo questionnaire 
Sample: 
Group of professionals (people researching or studying karst) 
Group of visitors ( enthusiasts, tourists enjoying the karst) 
Group of indigenous people (people living in the karst area perceiving it 
as home environment). 
Procedure: 
The results will be reached by questionnaire, which is the same for all pilot 
groups with contents: knowledge, association, perception, recognition and 
assessments. 
Results: 
Mathematical and statistical methods will be used to generate research 
result and to establish the level of achieved aims (factor- analysis, variance 
analysis with F test used ... ). 
41