Measuring atmosphere: relationships between room ambience, activity, and human emotional responses in virtual reality

Abstract

This exploratory study aims to create a framework for measuring the strength of atmosphere in interior spaces, as defined by the architectural elements within them. A survey questionnaire based on PANAS was created, along with 10 3D modeled rooms that were simulated in virtual reality. The rooms were designed using parameters derived from studies in environmental psychology that informed the creation of a room activity level scale (RALS). Each of the rooms was given a score on this scale. 24 participants were asked to report their feelings while in the VR spaces using the questionnaire. The rooms were first shown to them in color and afterwards in grayscale. It was hypothesized that 1) the participants would report stronger emotional responses in the rooms that were lower on the RALS, 2) that participants would report stronger emotional responses in colored rooms compared to their grayscale counterparts, and 3) that participants with a background in spatial design fields would report weaker emotional responses than participants without such a background. The data was analyzed using a mixed methods approach, where quantitative and qualitative data was gathered during the surveys. The quantitative data was analyzed with a linear regression model that informed the qualitative analysis. The results showed that hypotheses #1 and #3 were not supported, while hypothesis #2 was partially supported. It was determined that the opposite of hypothesis #1 was true, and that spaces higher on the RALS featured stronger emotional responses, alluding to the greater strength of atmosphere within them. Common architectural knowledge would claim that more mindful, less active spaces would feature a stronger atmosphere, as atmosphere is thought to be easier to perceive in such spaces. Opposing this notion, I suggest that the strength and perceivability of atmosphere are two different constructs.