THE ROLE OF TIME IN DEVELOPING PLACE MEANINGS CASE STUDY: JAVA']JAVAHERDEH RECREATION AREA, RAMSAR, IRAN

Person-place models show that there are complex and multidimensional bonds between individuals and places. Since some of researchers believe that familiarity duration with a place is an effective factor for place bonding, there is almost no data to prove this hypothesis, and even it is not clear that how and why does time affect these bonds? In the present study, comments of Javaherdeh recreation area visitors were used in order to prove and describe the role of time in devoting sense of place. Questionnaire was the main tool used in this study. Content validity and Cronbach's alpha methods were used to determine validity and reliability of the questionnaire, respectively. The results showed that there are significant differences between people who had a special place and those who did not have a special place, based on visit characteristics including repeated visits, maintaining the bond, and duration of stay. Moreover, a significant difference was observed between familiarity of visitors and sense of place. In this study, the physical environment was considered important in the case of short-term familiarity with other places, while social relationships, homes, and ceremonies were considered important in the case of a longer-term familiarity. The results showed that a longer-term familiarity with a place converts the basis of physical attachment into social attachment. Furthermore, longer-term familiarity with a place will lead to a higher place attachment.