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Author
Rubin, A. I. | Elder, J.
Title
Building for People: Behavioral Research Approaches and Directions. Final Report.
Coporate
National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
Report
NBS SP 474
June 1980
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Keywords
architecture; user needs; human factors engineering; design; buildings; environments; anthropometry; color; sound waves; perception; comfort; surveys
Abstract
The primary goal of this report is to acquaint the practicing architect and the architectural student with the potential contributions of the social sciences to the solution of building design problems. The report is divided into seven major parts, each part containing several chapters. Part I explores problems connected with today's buildings and advocates a design approach based on a team concept including architects, behavioral researchers, and engineers. Part II takes up the scientific approach to research, stressing the need for employing experimental controls and systematic procedures to collect objective data. Parts III, IV, and V describe methods employed by researchers to collect Man/Environment (M/E) data. The emphasis is on the need to develop systematic procedures to collect information, because only in this way can significant progress be made in developing a discipline of M/E studies. Part VI summarizes the major points and indicates approaches and directions for developing such a discipline. Part VII contains reference information to broaden the perspective of the reader with respect to M/E issues. The final part of the work contains a glossary, bibliographic information, and an index.