1 Unpacking the Theory of Sense of Place. Is it Useful for Choice Modeling?

With the introduction and increasing reliance of the activity based approach to travel behavior, discrete choice methods are being relied upon more heavily in spatial contexts. A necessity in specifying spatial choice models is the inclusion of the alternatives decision makers consider, and a realistic inclusion in the specification of the attributes of these alternative, the characteristics of the decision making context, and the relevant characteristics of the decision maker. These details describe differences that exist among choices and individuals making choices. In the case of travel behavior, attributes of the alternatives have traditionally included attributes such as cost, distance, time, level of service and opportunities. Researchers however have recognized the benefit of attitudes in the estimation of choice models, showing improvement in explanatory power with the inclusion of attitudinal attributes of the individual. There is still however a vast expanse of unexplored attitudinal attributes in choice modeling. Particularly lacking in choice modeling is a strong theoretical underpinning of attitude formation and attitude relation to choice. Theorists in geography in the mid to late 1970s recognized and developed one such theory regarding the emotional and attitudinal association that people hav