The Effects of Different Types of Student Involvement in Dormitory Design Over Time

There is much discussion in the design and planning professions about the role, importance, and effects of user involvement in environmental decision-making. There is relatively little research which has systematically and empirically explored these issues. In a survey of 738 students living in six college dormitories, each originally designed with different levels of student involvement, this study investigated the relationship between both the amount of student involvement in the original design of the dormitory, and ongoing participation processes involving personalization of the dormitory room, on student satisfaction with the dormitories. A low but statistically significant correlation between student satisfaction and both types of student involvement in the design process was found. Implications for the design and administration of college dormitories are discussed.