Architectural correlates of privacy: the dynamics of privacy regulation

Abstract

The study examines architectural correlates of privacy in an aerospace industry. Conceptual/theoretical notions are tested, whose ultimate value is the further refinement of privacy regulation, conceptually and operationally. Complexities of privacy as a concept and its regulation are clarified through theory and systematic information generated through the Heuristic Elicitation Methodology(HEM). The study demonstrates the usefulness and adaptability of the HEM to environmental design research.

The conceptual model of privacy regulation presented in the study guided the research and extends theoretical considerations regarding social, behavioral, and environmental mechanisms operating within the context of culture that are employed to regulate privacy in work environments. The model posits a comprehensive framework of privacy regulation and suggests a more detailed method for classifying regulatory characteristics.

The HEM provides a fairly definitive interpretation (i.e., understanding) of physical elements devised or deployed by designers that users perceive as regulating privacy, and where privacy fits into the users' perception of what is important in their work environments. The information gathered is directly applicable to space planning standards and design practices at the aerospace industry, and pending further research, perhaps to a variety of other situations.

The study also lays the foundation for future research on the cultural variability of privacy regulation. The knowledge gained could be used to increase an organization's effectiveness by providing a framework for developing and then communicating culturally-sensitive space planning standards and design practices. In a broader context, the study stresses the importance of encompassing human values and technology in environmental design research.