The Role and Function of Virtual Communication in Urban Public Spaces Through Social Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Laleh Park in Tehran)

Transcription

1 Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi (CFD), Cilt:36, No: 4 Özel Sayı (2015) ISSN: Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Science Science Journal (CSJ), Vol. 36, No: 4 Special Issue (2015) ISSN: The Role and Function of Virtual Communication in Urban Public Spaces Through Social Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Laleh Park in Tehran) Mitra CHERAGHI 1*, Vahid SHALIAMINI 2 1 MSc in Architecture, West Tehran branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 2 Assistant Professor and Faculty Member of Central branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Received: ; Accepted: Abstract. Social interpretations of sustainability emphasize on the equality of social rights and justice and this may lead to the gradual development of cities along with consolidated models of civil obligations. One of the key results of world conference communication discussions (WCCD) is that there is no world development model which may result in sustainability in all levels of society and sustainability is dialectic, multifaceted and complementary process which may be different from one society to the other, one community to the other and one field to the other. Virtual communications provide participatory backgrounds and increase social interactions in order to create desirable conditions to attain sustainable development. But now the challenge that today individual is confronted with is the gap between virtual world and its real location. The aim of this article is to review public social structures proportional as infrastructures for intersection of virtual spaces with their real societies in order to discuss communication not just as a media or message but in a network of social dependencies. The method of investigation is surveying description with reviewing documental and librarian studiesand choosing Laleh Park as a case study in order to find how virtual communications through group media may influence civil activities and enhance social relationships in urban public spaces to attain social sustainability. Keywords: Social sustainable development, virtual communications, civil activities, urban public spaces INTRODUCTION With the development of cities and discussion of the principle sustainable development, attention to sustainability principle, is questioned increasingly. If we consider urban development as a spatial concept which leads to changes in land usage in order to provide human necessities or increase densities, from social aspect is considered permanent development which creates unified and homogenous societies in which urban residents feel citizenship, justice and equality and repair social- economical gaps. This will be realized when urban lands and allocation of resources and facilities take place equally or at least with partial equality among spatial and social units. (Mohammadi etal,2002) Recent studies (2001) of OECDpoint out that social sustainabilityare usually concerned with the relation between social inferences of environmental policies and not uniform structural composition of sustainable development. (DFID, Indicators for Socially Sustainable Development, 2002) In social discussion sustainable development is to emphasize on elimination of injustice and imbalance in the societies under consideration. In sustainable development with social attitude, concepts of participation and enabling have special statuses. ( Accurate definition and classification of communication social functions, was first made by Harold Lasol, American famous researcher, in an article written in In this article, he * Corresponding author. mitra.cheraghi@gmail.com Special Issue: Technological Advances of Engineering Sciences Faculty of Science, Cumhuriyet University

2 CHERAGHİ, SHALİAMİNİ considered three essential roles of supervising environment (informative role), creating and developing social correlation (descriptive role) and transmitting cultural heritage (educational role) for mass media. (Overton, J, Strategies for Sustainable Development, Zed books, LondonandNewyork city. 1999) Relying on the roles and social applications of mass media instruments has influenced communicational studies and researches of recent decades about third world very much. in this regard, famous hypothesis of Daniel Lerner about renovation of third world and the definite role of mass media in the development of developing countries which are described in his famous book transition from traditional society: renovation of Middle East are very important. he introduces mass media as the main element for the mobility of traditional societies and converting traditional humans to modern human being and by emphasizing the necessity of expansion of important factors of renovation like citizenship, literacy, using mass media, and economical and political participation, recommends the same but quicker way of seeking modernity and participation for third world countries according to several centuries of experiences in order to attain modernity and democracy. (Overton, J, Strategies for Sustainable Development, Zed books, LondonandNewyork city. 1999) This research is made with social sustainability attitude and emphasis on the role and importance of virtual communications as effective component in order to attain this purpose in Tehran Laleh Park. So, the main question is to investigate the quality of the relation of social communications in virtual networks with social sustainable development in the public space of an urban park. So research method considered is descriptive- survey which addresses the investigation findings from Tehran Laleh Park in sections of discussion, study and conclusion, after introducing theoretical foundations, research method, statistical tests and analysis. Research background It seems that there is no agreement based on the measures and perspectives which should be accepted in the definition of social sustainability. Every author or policy maker derives his definitions according to special disciplines and measures and creates a generalized definition hard for attainment. (2) Other writers don t provide a comprehensive definition from social sustainability but try to study the main concepts and key themes including this concept. For example (Beans, Morgan et al,2004) claimed that the main components constituting social sustainability are as follows: Satisfying the essential needs of human beings; Overcoming disabilities related to the lack of personal abilities; Improving individual responsibility, including social responsibilities and paying attention to the requirements of future generations; Maintaining and increasing the balance of social capital in order to improve reliability, harmony and cooperation required to create civil institutions and support them; Paying attention to the equal distribution of development opportunities now and in the future; Recognizing differences of societies and cultures and improving social patience; Enabling people to participate in effective conditions which are mutually effective on the selection of development programs and deciding about them.their function expanded the domain of social sustainabilityfrom preliminary demands and social health to social capital, equality and cultural and social dynamism. (Overton, J;1999) 1145

3 The Role and Function of Virtual Communication in Urban Public Spaces Through Social Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Laleh Park in Tehran) 1) These concepts have been regarded necessary for physiological and social survival of human beings and total society. So, there is a little doubt if house, food, fresh water and employment are the necessary requirements of sustainability among societies and people.and also equal rights is regarded as a determinative component in social sustainability. Because of growing documents which show that societies in lower level of contradictions and disagreement have higher life expectancy, lower level of crime and murder, and more consolidated models of urban obligations and stronger economic life. (Overton, J;1999) Peter Donaldson believes that development continuity is dependent on public participation and till all people with public awareness from changes and requirements according to development don t participate, it will not be possible to continue development. (Abadi, 2011) according to it urban space is introduced as a place to talk and interact about forces effective on urban transformations. (Mohsenian Rad, M. Soroush Publications, Tehran, 11th edition, 2011, introduction by MotamedNejad K.) Richard Rojers is another expert with sustainabilitytendency who in his work with the title of cities for a small planet, introduces public field as an element of social encouragement and mobility in cities. Because he believes a sustainable city should have characteristics like justice, beauty, creativity, ecology, compression and multicenter, diversity and finally easy communications in which information is exchanged face to face and electronically.(mohsenian Rad, M. Soroush Publications, Tehran, 11th edition, 2011, introduction by MotamedNejad K). It was after Rio Earth Summit in 1992 that sustainable development was globally accepted as a paradigm guiding and complementary for economic and social development and environmental protection as supportive elements and dependant on long-term development. Different perspectives during several years have influenced on complementary and general attitude of sustainable development. However, one of the central ideas is that there is no global development model leading to sustainability in all social level in the world. Sustainability is dialectic, multifaceted and complementary process which may be different from one society to the other, one community to the other and one field to the other. In other words, every society and community needs to struggle in order to recognize its own policies to begin sustainable development with the existing resources and capital (not just physical, financial and environmental but also individual, social and organizational etc.) and consider the requirements, perspectives and concerns of people. Sustainable development implies participatory and conditioned attitudes in order to structure and perform policies, skills and energies related to all social groups for the future of the earth and its people. According to this framework, communication plays institutional and strategic role for cooperation in the function of different elements of development, improvement in sharing information and knowledge and also the active participation of all those interested. Along with this perspective, in 2000 s participatory attitude was converted to a key characteristic in applications of communication for development (ComDev) for sustainable development. ComDev is understood for usage with program and participatory methods and communication tools which contribute to the facilitation of knowledge and information knowledge. And also participation and changing tendencies and exercises to attain development purposes accepted by all conditions. Com Dev relates to negotiation, participation and sharing knowledge and information. These include related needs and capacities as integrated and participatory application of communication processes, media and networks and answers three main functions: 1146

4 CHERAGHİ, SHALİAMİNİ Facilitating participation: Opportunity of expression to all people involved in order to be absorbed in decision making process. Making information comprehensible includes explanation and transfer of knowledge for educational purposes, exchange of experience and sharing quality of performance and technology. Developing accepted policies: approving and advertising policies, especially when they provide new opportunities for rural people to achieve services and resources. In this framework, communication is not just introduced as a social process limited to media or messages, but discussed according to their interactions in a network of social relations. Attitudes and practices of ComDev when confronting with complex implications of sustainable development are the most suitable for usage. Aligned with it come: -Improving development opportunities for uniform and insurable access to knowledge and information in all sections of society and especially vulnerable classes; - Developing efficient management and harmonizing development innovations through downup programming; - Promoting the equality of rights through communication network and social bases effective on policy adoption; - Encouraging networks to promote behavior and lifestyle of sustainable consumptive models through training expanded audiences; - Encouraging sustainable use of natural resourced by considering binary perspectives and materials and supporting participatory management by negotiation and counsellorship; - Expanding social awareness and mobility related to social and environmental outcomes; - Guaranteed economy and employment opportunities by uniform and timely information; Solving different disputes by establishing guaranteed talks among different combinations of a society (Kashanijou. Kh; 2010) Research method The recent research is from survey-descriptive type with Tehran Laleh Park as a case study to evaluate the quality of influencing virtual communication by mass media on civil activities and enhancing social relations in public spaces of city based on questionnaire. In order to gain a standard questionnaire which is at the same time valid and include the variables being evaluated at the first stage, a questionnaire and sample was provided from 40 respondents and after gathering data and examining their validity, in later stages more questionnaires were provided and in order to analysis data we used SPSS software. In order to know the permanency of questionnaire we used ChronBach Alpha coefficient which may be used in almost all cases for evaluating internal logical consistency of questionnaire (10). The value of ChronBach Alpha was calculated which shows the acceptable level of this test. In order to ensure that research concepts are operational and indexes are tangible, table 1 shows the quality of research indices spectrum: 1147

5 The Role and Function of Virtual Communication in Urban Public Spaces Through Social Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Laleh Park in Tehran) Table 1. Indices and Spectrums used in investigation. Concept Component Indices Spectrums used Social development Level of education of participation Social sustainability Expansion of virtual communications Active attendance in urban spaces Interaction in society/ social networks Ability in social innovations Internet Mass media Level of satisfaction Attendance in park and utilizing its public space Staying in the place in the first half of the year (for some respondents) Staying in the place in the second half of the year (for some respondents) The level of preference to spend time in social networks to spend time in urban spaces Under diploma- diplomajunior college- B.A.- M.A. Very satisfied- satisfiedneither satisfied nor dissatisfied- dissatisfiedvery satisfied Never- less than once a year- once a year- 2 or three times a year- often Less than 30 minutes- 30 minutes to 1 hour- 1 to 2 hours- 2 to 4 hours- more than 4 hours Less than 30 minutes- 30 minutes to 1 hour- 1 to 2 hours- 2 to 4 hours- more than 4 hours Seldom- very much- oftenalways Giving information and attendance in gatherings (artistic, cultural, social, ) in Laleh Park by internet and social networks Level of acquaintance with internet Level of acquaintance with mass media and social networks Very little- littlemoderate- good- very good Very little- littlemoderate- good- very good Very little- littlemoderate- good- very good Research Hypotheses First Hypothesis: There is a relation between level of education and attendance in urban public spaces. Second Hypothesis: There is a relation between level of education and general perception of its public spaces. Third Hypothesis: There is a relation between level of education and level of participation in giving suggestions for improvement of spaces. Fourth Hypothesis: There is a relation between level of education, awareness and attendance in urban gatherings by internet, and mass media. Fifth Hypothesis: There is a relation between level of acquaintance with mass media and social networks and level of active attendance in urban spaces and interactions in real communities. 1148

6 CHERAGHİ, SHALİAMİNİ Sixth Hypothesis: There is a relation between level of acquaintance with mass media and internet social networks, awareness and attendance in urban gatherings by internet, and mass media. Findings Descriptive statistics: 53percent of the interviewee were female and the rest were male. The comparison between the averages showed that no significant difference is observed between the results of two groups. About 35 percent had B.A. degrees and 28 percent were diploma and the rest, those who had junior college degree and M.A. and more each were nearly 19 percent (Figure1). Most of the respondents were between and 45 percent; after which years old constituted about 22 percent in the second level (Figure 2). Figure 1. Diagram of education level. Figure 2. Diagram of age combination. 1149

7 The Role and Function of Virtual Communication in Urban Public Spaces Through Social Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Laleh Park in Tehran) Hypothesis test: In order to test hypotheses, we used (analysis of variance) test. The first hypothesis is measuring the relation between level of education and attendance in urban public spaces. Table 2 shows hypothesis test to prove this relation. As is observed, significance values were 0.029, and (less than 0.05) in all three questions related to this hypothesis, so there is a significant relationship between these two. Table 2. First hypothesis test. Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. q1 Between Groups Within Groups Total q2 Between Groups Within Groups Total q3 Between Groups Within Groups Total The first hypothesis measures the relation between level of education and level of satisfaction from space. Significance value was (less than 0.05), so there is a significant relationship. (Table 3) Table 3. Second hypothesis test. q8 Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. Between Groups Within Groups Total In measuring third hypothesis, we are going to find a significant relationship between level of education and participation in suggestions for improving space that considering the significance value this relationship is approved (table 4). In the next measurement we study the effect of level of education on awareness and attendance in urban gathering through internet and social media which considering the obtained result this relationship is rejected. Table 4. Third hypothesis test. q9 Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. Between Groups Within Groups Total Table 5. Fourth hypothesis test. 1150

8 CHERAGHİ, SHALİAMİNİ q15 Sum of Squares Df Mean Square F Sig. Between Groups Within Groups Total The results obtained from reviewing fifth hypothesis the relationship between level of acquaintance with mass media and social networks and level of active attendance in urban spaces and interactions in real communities showed that considering the significance value 0.08 (more than 0.05) the existence of this relationship is rejected (table 6). The sixth hypothesis which is related to the main theme of research addresses the level of acquaintance with mass media and internet social networks, and awareness and attendance in urban gatherings by internet, and mass media that considering the results included in table 7 the validity of this relationship is approved. Table 6. Fifth hypothesis test. q1 Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. Between Groups Within Groups Total Table 7. Sixth hypothesis test. DISCUSSION q15 Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. Between Groups Within Groups Total The discussion is made with the aim evaluating the level of effectiveness of mass media and internet groups on civil activities and enhancing social relations in public spaces and in descriptive- survey method. The mentioned site is placed in region 6 of Tehran municipality and is limited from north to Dr. FatemiStreet; from south to Keshavarz Boulevard; from west to KargarStreet and from east to Hijab Street. In the neighborhood of this park the Contemporary Arts and Iran Carpet museums and Laleh Hotel are located. The reason for choosing this place is because it is famous and near to cultural and artistic centers and also universities. The role and effect of internet and virtual communications on mass media is considered as a capacity to achieve a social sustainable development. Reviewing statistical data about measuring the level of education and level of attendance in urban spaces show a significant relationship between these two. A considerable part ofrespondents with university education and B.A. and M.A. degrees or more are reluctant to attend in parks and civil places (figure 3). Of course we shouldn t forget that they constitute a higher percent of respondents and considering the second hypothesis higher level of education reduces the level of satisfaction considerably which should be studied deeply (figure 4). At the 1151

9 The Role and Function of Virtual Communication in Urban Public Spaces Through Social Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Laleh Park in Tehran) same time higher level of tendency to participate and giving opinion and solution to improve space in groups is a factor which should be considered as an efficient step toward increasing social positive interactions and achieving social sustainable development. In spite of prior speculations about the relationship of level of acquaintance with mass media and active attendance in urban spaces according to results obtained from the test, the intended hypothesis wasn t approved. Many factors may be effective in this relation. Space and society are related in a special form. Reflection on space without considering social conditions or society without considering its spatial capacity is very difficult. This is a mutual process in which people and societies create space, change them and are influenced by them in different ways (11). Virtual interactions in internet space considering rapid improvement of communication technology like electronic post, internet and mass media may lead to increase in tendency to mutual indirect actions and silence of society, especially when virtual network provides more power and more freedom compared to urban public spaces. But always face to face meetings are required to enrich information exchange about the way of thinking and understanding other people. Figure 3. Diagram of the relationship of level of education and attendance in urban public spaces. 1152

10 CHERAGHİ, SHALİAMİNİ Figure 4. Diagram of the relationship of level of education and satisfaction from public spaces. Although a significant relationship wasn t found between the level of education and acquaintance with internet and mass media and level of attendance in urban spaces, still virtual communications in group media and social networks may act as an impulse to persuade the audiences to attend civil events and gatherings. Virtual media in internet networks have the ability to create social innovations and so provide required factors to increase correlation and participation (figure 5). Figure 4. Diagram of the relationship of level of acquaintance with internet networks and participation in events and gatherings. 1153

11 The Role and Function of Virtual Communication in Urban Public Spaces Through Social Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Laleh Park in Tehran) CONCLUSION The results of hypotheses test approve the existence of a significant relationship between level of acquaintance with virtual social networks and attendance in civil gatherings and events. The related results show the low percent of attendance in gatherings through giving information in virtual social network which should be studied more carefully. Since continuing sustainable development without public participation and general information will not be realized, and internet with its public accessibility and facilitating participation feature provides uniform ground for transferring information, expanding awareness, increasing confidence and supporting civil institutions and helps to eradicate imbalance, injustice and provide more consistent models from civil obligations. Expanding free education of internet for all people through governmental public taxes and providing multimedia centers we may maintain and increase assets like social capital, equality, and social dynamism and facilitate the road to social stability. Also identifying the elements effective on lowering tendency of more graduated classes to attend in parks and public spaces and their lower tendency to stay in these spaces is one of the most important research needs to create social stability which may just be enabled by anthropologic researches and collecting real data from inside communities. REFERENCES [1] Mousa Kazemi Mohammadi, S.M.: Shokouii, H. measuring social sustainability of Ghom development, geographical research, no, 43, 2002 [2] Momeni, M. Faal, A. Statistical analyses using Spss, Moalef publication, Tehran, [3] Gidens, A. Chavoshian, H. Sociology, revised and updated, Tehran, Nei Publication, 6th ed [4] Colantonio, Andrea, Social Sustainability: Linking Research to Policy and Practice, Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD), Oxford Brookes University,2009 [5] Carmona, Matthew etal, "Places Urban Spaces, Architectural Press, Amesterdametal, (2003) [6] Col Antonio, A. Bahmanpoor, S. Concept of social sustainability and its theoretic framework, extracted from collection of articles EIBURS, july 2007, Oxford sustainability development institute- Land Market international group, Brox University of Oxford(England), internet journal of reconstruction, third year, no. 15, [7] Colantonio, Andrea, Social Sustainability: Linking Research to Policy and Practice, Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD), Oxford Brookes University,2009 [8] DFID, Indicators for Socially Sustainable Development, 2002 [9] [10] Kashanijou. Kh. Recognizing theoretic attitudes to city public spaces, City Identity journal, fourth year, no.6. spring and summer of [11] Mohammadi, S.M.: Shokouii, H. measuring social sustainability of Ghom development, geographical research, no, 43, 2002 [12] Mohsenian Rad, M. Knowledge of communication- human relations (interpersonal, group & collective), Soroush Publications, Tehran, 11th edition, 2011, introduction by MotamedNejad K. [13] Overton, J, Strategies for Sustainable Development, Zed books, LondonandNewyork city [14] World Congress On Communication For Development (Wccd) Communication For Sustainable Development Fao Communication For Development Group, October 2006,