A Scaling Procedure for Environmental Research

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Abstract
Drawing upon the scaling techniques of Osgood, Suci, and Tannenbaum and the factor analytic methods of Flynn, and Mehrabian and Russell, a scaling procedure is presented that will permit the researcher to evaluate the affective characteristics of the environment and various features it contains. Starting with a large number of adjective-pairs in a semantic-differential format, an analysis of variance is computed from the responses to each adjective-pair, residuals are computed, and a correlation matrix is developed. A factor analysis of the correlation matrix yields the “attributes” being measured and the weights for each adjective-pair. The scale is then re-scored using these weights and the resulting values serve as dependent variables for a conventional analysis of variance. Examples of scales for measuring thermal comfort, environmental spaciousness, efficiency, attractiveness, and overall quality will be presented as well as scales that have been developed for measuring the size, style and comfort of office chairs, the comfort characteristics of protective clothing, and the style and acceptance of mixing valves used in showers. A step-by-step procedure for the statistically unsophisticated individual is presented.

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