Title: Validity and reliability testing of a post-occupancy evaluation questionnaire on indoor environmental quality and occupants' satisfaction

Authors: Denise A. Guerin; Hye-Young Kim; Jonee Kulman Brigham; SeonMi Choi; Angelita Scott

Addresses: College of Design, University of Minnesota, 1985 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA ' College of Design, University of Minnesota, 1985 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA ' Center for Sustainable Building Research, University of Minnesota, 1425 University Ave. SE, Suite 115, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA ' College of Design, University of Minnesota, 1985 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA ' College of Design, University of Minnesota, 1985 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA

Abstract: A post-occupancy evaluation (POE) conceptual framework and questionnaire were developed and tested for occupant satisfaction in sustainable buildings. The purpose of this study was to test the POE questionnaire for validity and reliability and report the test results as well as those of a confirmatory case study analysis. An online, self-administered questionnaire was completed by 218 occupants of a sustainable office building in the Midwest. Statistical analysis for validity and reliability is reported. Additionally, several notable results were found in the case study: a) overall occupant satisfaction is significantly influenced by lighting/view conditions and furnishings conditions; b) occupant satisfaction with lighting/view conditions was significantly related to visual comfort of lighting; c) occupant satisfaction with furnishings conditions was significantly related to visual privacy. Finally, the questionnaire was found to be valid and reliable, which provides the industry with an instrument to learn more about occupant responses to sustainable buildings.

Keywords: post-occupancy evaluation; POE; sustainable design; conceptual framework; indoor environment; environmental quality; reliability testing; validity testing; lighting; views; furnishings; occupant satisfaction; office buildings; sustainable buildings; sustainability; visual comfort; visual privacy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSDES.2013.057122

International Journal of Sustainable Design, 2013 Vol.2 No.2, pp.128 - 148

Received: 08 Nov 2012
Accepted: 24 Jan 2013
Published online: 28 Jun 2014 *

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