Welcome to the survey on landscape research
Landscape is increasingly studied across a wide range of disciplines and research traditions. At the same time, researchers use different concepts, terms and perspectives to describe and investigate landscape.
These developments raise questions about how landscape is understood today, what the concept enables researchers to capture, and whether other concepts are increasingly being used alongside or instead of it.
The overarching aim of this survey is to explore how researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds conceptualise landscape, which concepts they use to study landscape-related phenomena, and which key issues and methodological approaches characterise landscape research.
The responses will provide the basis for a round-table discussion entitled ‘Why do we need landscape’, which will be hosted by researchers from the Institute of Spatial Planning at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences during the 20th International Symposium on Landscape Ecology, to be held in Stará Lesná, Slovakia, from 8 to 10 June 2027.
The following survey is split into 3 parts. It should take you no more than 15 minutes to complete.
Your participation in this study is strictly voluntary. You may refuse to answer any questions in the survey that you are not comfortable answering. And you may withdraw from the study at any point, although we will not be able to retract material that has already been published.
We will take all necessary measures to ensure the confidentiality of the information you provide. Names, personal information, or anything else that might identify you, your family members, or anyone else, will not be included in any research documents, presentations, or publications. All participants will remain anonymous.
If you have any questions about the research, please contact Iga Kołodyńska (iga.kolodynska@upwr.edu.pl) or Joanna Lipsa (joanna.lipsa@upwr.edu.pl).
Thank you very much in advance for your valuable input. We hope you enjoy the survey!
Part A: Landscape
In this first part, we would like to understand how you conceptualise landscape in your own research. There are many ways of understanding landscape and we are interested in your own perspective rather than in a single definition of the term.
1. Which of the following best describe how you understand or use the concept of “landscape” in your research?
Select up to five that are most important to your perspective.
0 / 5 selected
2. How do you conceptualise landscape in your research?
3. What does the concept of “landscape” allow you to capture particularly well in your research?
Please briefly describe what the concept of landscape enables you to study, understand, or connect that might be less well captured by other concepts (e.g. environment, land use, place etc.).
Part B: Other concepts
Landscape is not the only concept used to study relationships between people, space and the environment. Researchers may use other concepts alongside, instead of, or in relation to landscape. In this part, we would like to understand which concepts you use and why.
7. What other concepts are you using and why?
Briefly indicate how you understand or define each concept.
8. Has your definition of “landscape” changed over the course of your academic career? If so, what factors influenced this?
8b. What were the main reasons for this change?
9. Complete the sentences:
