Investigating the Factors Affecting the Consumption Pattern of Urban Public Spaces (Case Study: Tehran city)

A B S T R A C T
In recent decades, spatial and physical expansion along with population density at the city level and changes in the urban lifestyle have turned urban public spaces into a place to form daily urban life, different social, economic and local interactions and the emergence of inequalities. Urban spaces find meaning and meaning with their users' activities and behavioural patterns. Even though behavioural patterns follow users' culture, environmental factors' role in the correct use of urban spaces cannot be ignored. The current research also believes that the use of public spaces is affected by economic, social and contextual factors. The current research aims to investigate the factors affecting the consumption pattern of urban public spaces. The survey research method and research tool is a questionnaire and research platform of Tehran city. The statistical population of the population over 18 years of age in Tehran in 2015 and the sample size estimated using the cluster method and Cochran's formula is 384 people. Data analysis was done using Lisrel software. According to the investigations carried out and according to economic and social factors, five consumption patterns of urban public space, such as traditional and classic public space, commercial public space, entertainment and recreational public space, etc., consumer public space, a third type of public space It was distinguished and it was found that urban areas according to different economic and social levels tend to a certain pattern of urban space consumption. Also, the results obtained from Lisrel software about the influence of factors on the pattern of consumption of urban public spaces were found to be the most important factors influencing the pattern of economic factors with a coefficient of 0.54, social factors with a coefficient of 0.47 and contextual factors with a coefficient of 0.43. They are the use of public space.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Based on this, geographical, social and economic inequalities, image and urban landscape have influenced the type of pattern of consumption of urban public spaces and have undergone changes and made the consumption of public spaces class-based. Due to the arrival of modernity in Iran and its many effects on urban life, the places and the type of their consumption have also changed, due to such events, the use of space has become more class-based. In the meantime, the city of Tehran, having a historical context, is witnessing the prosperity of modern spaces in some of its areas. A metropolis like Tehran physically has different and diverse areas and regions, for this reason, increasing social and economic distance and unequal distribution of facilities and services have turned it into a heterogeneous city in the social environment and hence the urban society It is deeply polarized in this city. with the emergence of different spaces that are affected by economic and social factors, this city is at the top of the inconsistencies and injustices and challenges of physical development on the one hand and economic, social and political changes on the other hand. . This has influenced the type of consumption patterns of public spaces among the city's regions and has turned Tehran into an unequal city in the production, distribution and consumption of urban spaces. In some areas, the consumption of traditional spaces is more than modern spaces and vice versa. Based on this, people living in different areas of the city, based on social and economic differences, do not have the possibility of equal access and use of urban public spaces, and according to their social and economic base, each of them tends towards a certain type of public spaces. Therefore, one of the most important problems and issues of Tehran's metropolis is the lack of balance in the field of distribution, access and use of urban public spaces. Therefore, the current research seeks to examine and study the effects of effective factors on the pattern of consumption of urban public spaces in the regions of Tehran. In this regard, he tries to answer the following question. What are the factors affecting the consumption pattern of public spaces in Tehran? What is the consumption pattern of urban public spaces among the regions of Tehran?
 
Methodology
The current research is a mixed (descriptive-analytical) research in terms of its practical purpose and according to its characteristics and nature. The statistical population of the research is the residents of Tehran. In this research, based on cluster sampling, Tehran is divided into 22 different urban areas and based on the geographical conditions of 5 regions: North (Region 1), South (Region 20), West (Region 5), East (Region 4) and The centre (area 12) was selected as a cluster and 2 areas from each area and 5 blocks from each area were selected randomly and residents who were over 18 years old and had lived in Tehran for 2 years were selected as the sample size. According to Cochran's formula, the number of statistical samples is 384 people.
 
Results and discussion
According to Table 8, in the examination of the obtained paths and coefficients, the path of economic characteristics has the greatest effect on social characteristics with a coefficient of 0.30. After that, the path of background features on social features with a coefficient of 0.16 and then all three investigated factors have an effect on the consumption pattern of public spaces with different coefficients. Meanwhile, economic characteristics with a coefficient of 0.54, social characteristics with a coefficient of 0.47, and background characteristics with a coefficient of 0.43 have the most impact on the consumption pattern of urban public spaces, respectively. According to the investigations and based on the theoretical literature of the research, in response to the first question of the research, it was determined that the factors influencing the pattern of consumption of urban public spaces are the social, economic and contextual characteristics,
which were determined by the tests on the degree of the relationship of each factor to the other and Finally, on the pattern of public space consumption, it was determined that they have meaningful and positive internal relationships. Also, in response to the question of the type of use of public spaces among the selected areas of Tehran, according to Table 3, it can be said that the type of use of public spaces is not the same according to the identified factors mentioned above, and the use of spaces is more in the northern areas of Tehran. They are of the modern type and the third type, and the residents of these areas are less inclined to use classic and traditional spaces.
 
Conclusion
The residents of areas 1, 4 and 5 believe that there is a lack of space to express their beliefs, thoughts and opinions. These people are looking for spaces with political symbols that encourage the collective action of individuals and groups towards participation, trust and expanding the scope of the network of social relations and sociable spaces. to push, are Therefore, there are fundamental differences in the eastern and western areas of Tehran with the northern areas of Tehran. One of the most important differences is the process of capitalist development and the formation of the middle class in the city of Tehran. The findings of the research show the essential and influential role of economic characteristics on the pattern of consumption of public spaces in the city of Tehran.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.