The Causal Model for the Relationship of Architectural Physi cal-Functional Variables and Kids’ Motivation to Play in the Middle Area of Residential Complexes

The population growth of cities on the one hand and rising land prices on the other hand havecreated overcrowded residential environments. Living in such environments has had a negativeimpact on the individual and social health of residents. Children, as the most vulnerable groupin society, are at greater risk of being exposed to changes in physical and social environmentsthan the other groups. The literature review has shown that most recent research focuses onthe characteristics of urban playgrounds, while the lack of playgrounds in residential areas hasconfirmed the necessity of paying attention to design of the middle area in residential complexfor kids’ motivation to play. Hence, the present investigated effective factors that would influencekids’ motivation to play in the middle area of residential complexes adopting a mixed-methodapproach (quantitative & qualitative). Accordingly, the theoretical framework of the research hasbeen developed with a qualitative method and aimed at searching for skeletal-functional andcognitive-behavioral features effective on creating and enhancing kids’ motivation to play. Onthe other hand, the extent and quality of the impact of each component resulted in transformingof quantitative data into quantitative data. In this research, a survey based on the Delphi methodwas used. After the construction and validation of the instrument, 100 architects’ attitude wasexamined. Finally, seven factors affecting on kids’ motivation to play were extracted by usingfactor analysis. These factors were: controllability, child-centered legibility, natural stimulantfactors, social interactions (generational & cross-generational), vitality of environment, curiosityand also, sensory stimulation. Following that, a hypothetical model was proposed based on therelationship between these variables and then, the factors’ relationship type and extent of effect oneach other were obtained by path analysis. Finally, the proposed model was modified. Based onthe analysis of the model, the relationship of the variables under investigation were interpreted:the study of direct and indirect effects of these factors shows the relationship between cognitivebehavioralcharacteristics and physical-functional characteristics that can have an important roleon the environmental affordances for kids’ motivation to play. At the end, the final model forthe relationship between physical-functional variables and cognitive-behavioral variables waspresented.