Preferences of Low-Income Housing Residents Using the Big Five Personality Traits Method

The inconsistency between housing and the personality traits of residents, particularly among low-income individuals, is a recurring issue. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between personality traits and residents' visual preferences by integrating the Big Five Personality Traits theory with Electroencephalography (EEG)-based Performance Metrics. To achieve this objective, a two-stage quantitative method was used. In the first stage, respondents were grouped based on personality traits using a 60-item Indonesian adaptation of the Big Five Inventory, which measured neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. In the second stage, respondents were presented with visual stimuli representing four residential design variables: spatial dimension, architectural style, material, and ceiling height. These stimuli followed the PANTONE CMYK standard and were evaluated under controlled D65 lighting conditions. Furthermore, participants' responses were measured using EEG-based Performance Metrics. The theoretical contribution of this study lies in advancing knowledge of how personality traits influence residents' visual preferences. The research results indicate that personality traits explain only a small fraction of the variance in visual preference scores (R2 = 0.021–0.085), and no personality trait significantly predicts responses to spatial dimensions, architectural styles, or ceiling heights. However, personality groups exhibited significant differences in their responses to the materials (F(2, 117) = 5.22, p = 0.007, η2 = 0.082); specifically, emotionally stable, sociable, and conscientious respondents reported higher levels of relaxation than reserved and conventional respondents. This underscores the need to re-evaluate how visual perceptions are formed, not only by stable personality traits but also by contextual and cultural factors.