Satisfaction in a dormitory building: the effects of floor height on the perception of room size and crowding

Abstract

This article examines the effects of floor height on the perception of room size and crowding as an important aspect of satisfaction with a dormitory building. The analysis was carried out by means of a survey research designed for dormitory residents at Bilkent University, Ankara. Two 5-story dormitory buildings, one housing men and the other women, in which all rooms are of identical size and have equal density, were chosen for the survey. The highest (fifth) and the lowest (ground) floor were included in this research with a sample of an equal number of male and female students for each. As predicted, residents on the highest floor perceive their rooms as larger and feel less crowded than residents of the lowest floor. Overall, when the room is perceived as larger and the feeling of privacy in a room increases, the satisfaction with a dormitory room also increases.