VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Day, Savannah S."

Browsing by Author "Day, Savannah S."

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Age as a predictor of acceptance of housing alternatives among the nonmetropolitan population
Reagor, Jane Davidson (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1989)
The main purpose of this study was to investigate a model of predictors of acceptance of housing alternatives among the nonmetropolitan population. The study analyzed data from the Southern Regional Research Project, S-141, “Housing for Low- and Moderate-Income Families." The sample consisted of 1,234 households and a subsample of 556 over age 55. The independent variables for this study were: housing situation, housing satisfaction, concept of home, and demographics, including age. The dependent variable was acceptance of housing alternatives. The work of Rogers (1962, 1983) and Rogers and Shoemaker (1971) on the adoption process of innovations formed the theoretical framework for this study. The Total Knowledge Index of Weber, McCray, and Claypool (1985), based on the decision stage of the adoption process of Rogers and Shoemaker (1971), was used to measure acceptance of six types of alternative housing: active solar, passive solar, apartment/multifamily, earth-sheltered/underground, manufactured/mobile home, and retrofitted/energy-improved. Multiple regression was used to test the first hypothesis that the age of the respondent would explain more variation in acceptance of housing alternatives than could be explained by given set of independent variables. Age did not significantly add to the amount of variation in acceptance that could be explained by the model of predictors. For the subsample over age 55 the addition of age significantly increased the amount of variation in acceptance. More of the variation in acceptance was explained by the model of predictors with the over age 55 subsample than with the entire sample. The second hypothesis involved regressing the set of predictors, excluding age, on each of the three age independent groups (under 55, 55 - 64, and age 65 and over). The set of predictors explained significantly more of the variation for the age defined groups of 55 to 64 and those age 65 and over than it did for the group under 55. Therefore, it appears that age is important in the prediction of acceptance of housing alternatives with the set of independent variables in this study, particularly for individuals over age 55.
Alternative housing : acceptance by householders in four Virginia counties
Day, Savannah S. (Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, 1985)
Barriers and incentives to the adoption of innovative, energy- efficient housing: passive and active solar and earth sheltered
Conway, Rochelle (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1988)
The purpose of this study was to determine intermediaries’ perceptions of barriers and incentives to innovative, energy efficient housing in Iowa. Data was collected by two surveys. The questionnaire for the first survey collected data from 102 communities in Iowa. Respondents were asked to determine the number of building permits issued for all new single family dwellings between 1975 and 1985 as well as the number of permits issued that were for passive solar, active solar, or earth sheltered housing. A rate of adoption was calculated for each community. The second questionnaire surveyed housing intermediaries drawn from the 102 communities included in the first survey. The sample consisted of 481 builders, building inspectors, realtors, lenders, and solar suppliers. Intermediary groups differed in their perceptions of barriers and incentives to innovative, energy-efficient housing. Significant differences were found among the intermediaries for whether state mandated solar standards would reduce the risk of inspection of solar energy houses and whether risky resale potential acts as a barrier to building solar energy housing. The major barriers were the "first costs" associated with building active solar and earth sheltered housing and the lack of skills among subcontractors to build active solar and earth sheltered housing. There was no significant relationship between rate of adoption among communities and their location in the state. There was, however, a significant relationship between category of building official and rate of adoption among communities. Communities with a high rate of adoption did not cluster in any one quadrant of the state. Additional differences among intermediaries occurred between lenders who had financed innovative energy efficient housing and lenders who had not. Lenders who had not financed solar or earth sheltered housing perceived the barriers to be greater than those who had. There were fewer differences in perceptions among solar/earth sheltered builders and nonsolar/earth sheltered builders. In conclusion, variability in perceptions among intermediaries on the barriers and incentives to innovative, energy efficient housing impact on the rate of adoption in communities in Iowa.
Energy-efficient housing alternatives: a predictive model of factors affecting household perceptions
Schreckengost, Renee (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985)
The major purpose of this investigation was to assess the impact of household socio-economic factors, dwelling characteristics, energy conservation behavior, and energy attitude on the perceptions of energy-efficient housing alternatives. Perceptions of passive solar, active solar, earth- sheltered, and retrofitted housing were examined. Data used were from the Southern Regional Research Project, S-141, "Housing for Low and Moderate Income Families." Responses from 1804 households living in seven southern states were analyzed. A conceptual model was proposed to test the hypothesized relationships which were examined by path analysis. Perceptions of energy-efficient housing alternatives were found to be a function of selected household and dwelling characteristics, energy attitude; household economic factors, and household conservation behavior. Age and education of the respondent, family size, housing-income ratio, utility-income ratio, energy attitude, and size of the dwelling unit were found to have direct and indirect effects on perceptions of energy-efficient housing alternatives. Energy conservation behavior made a significant direct impact with behavioral energy conservation changes having the most profound influence. Conservation behavior was influenced by selected household and dwelling characteristics, energy attitude, and household economic factors. Significant effects were found between conservation efforts and age, size, and condition of the housing unit, age and education of respondent, family size, and energy attitude. Household economic factors were directly affected by selected household and dwelling characteristics. Age and education of respondent and age and condition of dwelling had significant effects on the proportion of monthly income spent for housing and utilities.
Energy-efficient, innovative housing: a comparison of probable adopters and nonadopters
Dagwell, Carol Vaughan (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1983)
The purpose of this research, based on classical diffusion of innovations theory, was to examine factors related to the probable adoption or nonadoption of energy-efficient housing alternatives, specifically passive and active solar and earth sheltered/underground dwellings. Three types of factors were examined: demographics (geographical location by state, type of household, stage in family life cycle, race, age, and educational level); energy (belief in the energy crisis, the impact of energy on housing decisions, efforts to reduce utility costs, average monthly utility costs, and the presence of energy-conserving features in the dwelling); and, local regulatory codes for building (the presence of housing alternatives in the locality, the presence of regulatory codes, and the prior need for variances in order to construct alternative forms of housing). The study utilized daca collected as part of a regional research project, S-141, Housing for Low- and Moderate-Income Families. Data from households were collected by means of an interview schedule using a random sample of 1804 households from four counties selected in each of seven southern states after stratification on the basis of income and the number of nonfarm households. Data from local building officials in the same counties were collected using mailed questionnaires. Techniques of analysis utilized included the chi-squared test, analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, the t-test, and discriminant analysis. Findings indicated that probable adopters of the housing alternatives were usually younger, had more education, were in the earlier stages of the family life cycle, believed in the energy crisis, believed the energy situation had impacted housing decisions, had attempted to reduce utility costs, and lived in houses with more energy-conserving features than probable nonadopters.
An evaluation and comparison of the livability of prototypical and conventional house types: the development and testing of a methodology
Beamish, Julia O. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1983)
The purpose of the study was to develop a methodology for evaluating the livability of single-family houses and to test it on conventional and prototypical house types. The House Plan Evaluation Checklist and the Housing Satisfaction Scale were developed and analyzed for content validity using the responses of randomly selected housing professionals. Once the instrumsnts were revised they were used to evaluate the Benchmark house type (FmHA plan no. H5-41) and the Solar Attic house type (Cooperative Extension Plan Service experimental plan no. 7220). A randomly selected sample of 32 housing professionals evaluated the plans of these houses using the Hause Plan Evaluation Checklist. They rated the Solar Attic plan significantly higher on five of ten subscales. All of the subscales of the House Plan Evaluation Checklist had high inter-rater reliability when used by the housing professionals to rate the Benchmark house and the majority of the subscales also had high inter-rater reliability when used to rate the Solar Attic plan. The Housing Satisfaction Scale and an interview schedule were used with samples of 15 Benchmark and 15 Solar Attic residents to obtain information about their housing satisfaction and demographic, housing, and energy characteristics. The Solar Attic residents rated their satisfaction with their housing significantly higher than the Benchmark residents on five of 13 Housing Satisfaction subscales. The Benchmark residents had significantly more female heads of households, less educated heads of households, and lower income households. Their housing was older, smaller and the residents had lived there longer. They used more electrical energy, although their housing had many of the same energy-saving features as the Solar Attic houses. The subscales of the Housing Satisfaction Scale had inconsistent inter-rater reliability when used by the residents of both house types to rate their satisfaction, but they had high internal consistency reliability ratings on all but the Cost subscale.
The history of the Railroad of New Jersey Maritime Terminal in Jersey City, New Jersey: commemorating its centennial 1889-1989
Keenan, Sharon K. Sommerlad (Virginia Tech, 1990-05-05)
It was the purpose of this study to develop an accurate and detailed documented history of the CNJ Maritime Terminal. The study sought to answer specific questions concerning the historical, construction, and architectural significance of this structure to Jersey City, Hudson County and New Jersey. The history includes the purpose for which the structure was built, why the site was chosen, how the terminus was built, how the structure was utilized, who used the facility, why the site underwent modernization, how the modernization was instituted, who were the architects for this building, why the structure was expanded, and what alterations have been made to this structure since the CNJ Railroad Company filed for bankruptcy in 1967. This history was developed after researching both primary and secondary sources. These sources included CNJ Railroad Annual Reports, CNJ Railroad Company Charters, Peabody & Sterns Original Architectural Drawings, personal journals and correspondences, maps, technical publications, photographs, illustrations, books, magazines, CNJ Engineering Department files, historical society collections, private collections, and direct observation. The history of the CNJ Maritime Terminal, as developed within this study, comprises the historical documentation needed to secure more state funding so that the restoration for the historical site can be completed. The information can be of great value when used to justify the monies needed to complete this restoration.
Household task performance continuity during widowhood
Hill, Paulette Popovich (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1988)
Widowhood is an experience that typically brings about many changes in the lives of surviving spouses, and the resources available for coping may be limited, particularly for elderly persons. Specific variables which influence the ability of men and women to cope with the changes brought about by widowhood have not been identified completely. No one has examined the extent to which widowed persons are able to manage resources so they can continue performing personal and household functions. It is reasonable to assume that this type of continuity is a necessary foundation for overall adjustment to widowhood. Empirical data used in this study are from a larger project entitled "Continuity of Household Task Performance During Widowhood", supported by the AARP-Andrus Foundation. The Household Task Performance model was applied to examine gender differences in household task performance before and during widowhood and variables associated with strategy choice for maintenance of continuity of household task performance during widowhood. Respondents to the personal interviews were 173 household heads (38 males and 135 females), aged 60 to 91 years, who had been widowed 5 years or less and lived in Southwest Virginia. Respondents were located using public records and personal referrals. Widowers received more help than widows. Widowers widowed for longer time periods assumed personal responsibility for fewer tasks than their more recently widowed counterparts. Women widowed for shorter periods performed more of their own tasks than women widowed for a longer time. Both widows and widowers were maintaining continuity despite the generally lower skill level in household tasks for males Two strategies for maintaining this continuity were identified: (1) use and/or development of the widowed person's own resources, and (2) substitution of the labor of others for the performance of household tasks. Multiple regression analysis identified 5 predictors of household task performance strategy choice: health status, household task performance resources and resource demands, household task performance skills and knowledge, normative expectations for gender role, and initial adjustment difficulty.
Housing awareness, importance, preferences, and satisfaction of pre- and early-adolescent children in Appalachian Kentucky
Brewer, Gwendolyn Jett (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986)
Housing, a basic necessity, is frequently described as costly and increasingly designated as unaffordable; yet, there is a continuing conventionality in American tastes, desires, and ideals of housing. In order to expand housing knowledge, and, perhaps to facilitate the use of housing alternatives, attitudes/perceptions of housing held by pre- and early-adolescent children were investigated. The awareness, satisfaction, and importance attributed to housing by this consumer age group, who are often perceived as unconcerned or unopinionated, may be indicative of future housing demand and permanence of housing norms. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in an Appalachian Kentucky county were surveyed regarding housing knowledge, opinions, preferences, satisfactions, and importance. Rather than a lack of opinion, the 172 participants revealed definite perceptions of housing in general, their individual housing situations, and concern for the future/cost of housing. Overall, housing attitudes were traditional and conservative; there was a general unwillingness to accept energy-conservative or manufactured dwellings. While the children were relatively satisfied with their housing, they did not attribute great importance to housing. Older children were more aware of housing, attributed greater importance to it, and reported more normative preferences. Housing satisfaction was greater if the child was male, lived in a residence that aligned with housing norms, or was from a household with a greater number of amenities. Older children, or those with greater housing experience, were more likely to prefer neighborhood homogeneity. General preferences for housing replicated the child's current housing situation. With today's cost of housing, as well as changing family needs for housing, the child gains importance as a housing consumer not only for the home's impact upon his/her development, but also for the future demand he/she will contribute to the housing market. Housing education regarding current and potential alternatives not only can help young housing users to develop more realistic perceptions and expectations of housing but also may facilitate the choice of and improve satisfaction with housing alternatives.
Housing- and neighborhood-related stress of female heads of single-parent households
Baillie, Sheila (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986)
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of housing- and neighborhood-related deficits and stress in female heads of single-parent households. The main objectives were to determine: (1) if a correlation existed between the characteristics of the housing and neighborhood occupied by single-parent households and the number of deficits they reported; (2) if a correlation existed between the number of housing and neighborhood deficits and the amount of stress reported; and (3) what specific housing and neighborhood deficits were significantly associated with stress. A proportionate sample was drawn systematically from the 1983 school census data of Roanoke County and the independent city of Roanoke, Virginia. A self administered questionnaire was developed, pretested, and mailed to 1000 mothers of elementary school aged children and 162 usable responses were obtained. The Langner 22-item Index of Mental Illness was used to measure stress. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance, linear regression, and multiple regression with controls for the effect of extraneous variables on stress. Significant differences were found between the number of deficits reported and several characteristics of the respondents’ housing, including the type of dwelling, length of tenancy, method of housing payment, and dwelling satisfaction. A significant positive relationship was also found between the number of housing- and neighborhood-related deficits and the stress level of the respondents. Twelve of the 48 possible housing deficits were significantly related to stress (p < .01). These included inadequate size of rooms, inadequate space for family activities, entertaining, or children’s activities in the kitchen, no separate bedroom for the parent, lack of freedom to make changes in the Interior of the dwelling, inadequate Indoor storage, hard—to clean materials on the floors and in the bathroom, bedrooms not large enough for needed furnishings, no assigned parking space, and lack of privacy for family members. Four of the 21 possible neighborhood deficits were significantly related to stress (p < .01). These included inadequate police surveillance, lack of social acceptance of the single-parent lifestyle, and neighborhoods which were not clean or were not pleasant and attractive looking.
Interior design creativity: the development and testing of a methodology for the consensual assessment of projects
Barnard, Susan Smith (Virginia Tech, 1992-08-05)
The purposes of this study were: (1) to adapt the Consensual Technique for Creativity Assessment (Amabile, 1982; 1983a) methodology for use in the domain of interior design; and (2) to provide evidence for reliability and construct validity of the methodology. Participants were subjects who created the 18 projects used in the study, and judges, the 44 professional interior design experts who rated the projects. The sample of subjects was comprised of interior design students at a FIDER-accredited institution in the Mid-Atlantic region. The judges sample included two sub-categories: Educators (13) who were Corporate members of IDEC; and Designers (31) who were Professional members of ASID. Projects were assessed by subjective ratings on the Dimensions of Judgment for Interior Design creativity, the list of 12 rating criteria adapted from Amabile. Ratings were collected in judging sessions at three regional sites.
The Martha Washington Inn, 1830-1893: a documented history with architectural descriptions
Hall, Martha VanHook (Virginia Tech, 1985-03-05)
It was the purpose of this study to develop a documented history of the structures of the Martha Washington Inn. The study also sought to answer specific questions posed by the Virginia Landmarks Commission and the management of the Martha Washington Inn concerning the construction, and the historical and architectural significance of the structures. The history includes the purpose for which the buildings were constructed, how the buildings were utilized, and detailed architectural descriptions. The history was developed through examination of both primary and secondary sources. These sources included minutes of organizations personal journals, deeds, wills, genealogies, published memoirs, and a bill of work. The architectural descriptions were developed through readings in architectural history, historic photographs and illustrations, and direct observation.
Minimum design standards strategies for specific urban locations with reference to India
Krishnaswamy, Vidya (Virginia Tech, 1990-05-05)
The purpose of this study was to document seven selected sets of minimum housing design standards in two specific case locations, New Delhi and Madras, in India, and to evaluate criteria used for establishing these standards. A model of selected criteria from the different frameworks was then developed as part of an overall housing strategy. An integrated concept of housing as an environment, need, process and product was used as the basis of this study which was documented through review of literature and field research in India. The minimum standards were broadly classified as minimum space requirements, recommended building materials and general subdivision requirements. variations and ranges across the sets of standards were then tabulated to indicate the multiplicity of recommendati0ns, an initial premise of this study. Implications, based on broad premises, for future strategies in this field were developed. These suggestions were grouped into three clusters, namely, access to shelter by the abjectly poor, access to shelter by the low income groups in general and the restructuring of extant institutional and implementation frameworks.
Perceived thermal comfort and energy conservation strategies in residential heating
Turner, Carolyn S. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985)
The perception of thermal comfort is an important factor influencing the acceptability of residential heating strategies. The perceived thermal comfort may affect a person's inclination to try a strategy or to use it on a long-term basis. In the study, perceived thermal comfort was assessed in relation to room temperature, humidity, clothing worn, preferred room temperatures, personal control over the temperatures, and energy consumption. The relationships among these variables were examined for five families participating in a live-in study comparing five residential heating strategies. The strategies tested included closing off bedroom vents/doors, setting the thermostat at 65°F, and the use of a solar greenhouse and a woodstove as supplemental heat sources. The families lived in a retrofitted solar test house for a period of four to six weeks. The house was equipped with a computer which monitored 37 channels of information at ten-second intervals and recorded the data hourly. The data collected included temperatures in every room, inside and outside humidity, wind velocity, and other variables that interplay in comfort levels and energy use. The ten adult respondents completed daily and weekly questionnaires containing Likert-type scales of thermal comfort and checklists of clothing worn. The results suggest the following conclusions: 1) the use of a residential setting to measure thermal comfort under varying environmental conditions can be successfully accomplished, 2) psychological variables such as personal control should be considered and tested by persons involved in standards development for the thermal environment, 3) the ability and experience of the persons to use a strategy can affect the achieved energy saving benefits of the strategy, 4) personal preference in the amount of personal effort a person is willing or able to give will impact on the decision on whether to use certain strategies, 5) heating strategies that can produce a direct source of heat or at least some warmer areas were rated higher by the project participants, and 6) weather can play an important role in the effectiveness of the solar greenhouse as a heating source.
The receptivity to housing policy initiatives: adequate and affordable housing in the rural south
Shelton, Gladys G. (Virginia Tech, 1990)
The main purpose of this study was to assess the impact of housing actors’ housing knowledge and involvement, perceptions of community Situations influencing housing, support for housing programs, and demographic characteristics on their receptiveness to housing policy initiatives. Perceptions of housing policy initiatives relative to funding for housing assistance and support for land use controls also were examined. The study analyzed data from the Southern Regional Research Project, S-194, "Barriers and Incentives to Affordable Housing." Responses from 786 housing actors living and/or working in 28 communities in seven southern states were analyzed. A conceptual model was proposed to test the hypothesized relationships. Relationships were examined by multiple regression. Two hypotheses were tested as dictated by the conceptual model. One hypothesis stated that housing actors’ receptiveness to housing policy initiatives relative to funding for housing assistance was not a function of housing knowledge, perceptions, support and personal demographic characteristics. The first regression equation explained 45% of the variability in housing actors’ receptiveness to funding for housing assistance. The four variables, housing discrimination towards groups with special needs, support of loans and grants for housing and community development, rental assistance, and homeowner assistance, entered the equation. The second hypothesis stated that housing actors’ receptiveness to housing policy initiatives relative to support for land use controls was not a function of housing knowledge, perceptions, support and personal demographic characteristics. The second regression equation explained only 14% of the variability in housing actors’ receptiveness to support for land use controls. Housing discrimination towards groups with special needs, demand for manufactured housing, support of loans and grants for homeowner assistance, and rental assistance were the contributing variables in the second model. Based on these analyses, the results suggest that the models tested should be revised.
Restroom usage in selected public buildings and facilities: a comparison of females and males
Rawls, Sandra K. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1988)
Women often experience having to stand in line in order to use public restrooms. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to determine the number and types of activities performed in the restroom, along with the amount of time spent in the restroom, as these factors might influence the revision of plumbing codes and the design of public restrooms. Data were collected by a self administered questionnaire at four sites--an airport, highway rest area, sports arena, and conference center. The subjects were also timed. The sample consisted of 230 male and 224 female respondents. Males and females were similar in the types of activities performed in the restroom. Urination, washing hands, and checking appearance were the three activities performed most frequently by both genders. Females were more likely to have to stand in line to use the restroom than males, though the wait was usually fewer than five minutes. At two of the sites, airport and sports arena, females, on an average, performed more activities than males. At all four sites, females spent a significantly greater amount of time in the restroom than did males. For female respondents the mean time ranged from 152.5 seconds (sports arena) to 180.6 seconds (rest area). For male respondents the mean time ranged from 83.6 seconds (sports arena) to 112.5 seconds (airport). There was no significant relationship between age and the amount of time spent in the restroom, for either gender at any of the four sites. The results from two sites, however, showed a slight trend toward older people spending more time in the restroom. There was no clear pattern with regard to explaining the relationship between the amount of time spent in the restroom and the number of activities performed. For males only, there were significant differences among the four sites and the amount of time spent in the restroom. For both males and females, there were significant differences between number of activities performed and site. This research indicates that females need a greater number of elimination fixtures than do males, and that revision of plumbing codes, based on further research, is needed.
Toward successful housing strategies in Egypt
Saaid-Farahat, Nagia A. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985)
The purpose of this research was to develop a framework for Egyptian urban housing strategies, based on an understanding and consideration of critical factors that affect the success or failure of strategies. It is intended as a contribution toward modeling and demonstrating a necessary pattern of holistic strategic thinking. The need for the research in terms of the Egyptian housing situation and the varied approaches to the resolution of the housing problem is demonstrated. Also introduced are the general methodology and organization of the work. An integrated concept of housing as a need, a process and a product is presented and developed into a housing model applicable to Egypt and possibly other developing countries with similar circumstances. A main feature of the model is the critical impacting factors that affect the progression of housing strategies and which may ultimately determine their success or failure. The model and the methodological procedures derived from it, were applied to the Egyptian housing situation. Through reconnaissance of the Egyptian environment, historic analysis of past experience, and assessment of the current situation, a set of impacting factors were identified and analyzed. Implications of the research are discussed in relation to Egypt and other developing countries, and few personal recommendations are also presented.

Browsing by Author "Day, Savannah S."

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