An online survey on self-reported workplace design and personal factors concerning speech privacy satisfaction in open-plan office environment

Abstract

This study used a questionnaire survey to investigate self-reported workplace design and personal factors’ relationships with speech privacy satisfaction. First, we analysed the correlations of self-reported workplace design and personal factors with speech privacy satisfaction levels. Next, we investigated the relative contribution of each workplace design and personal factor through a stepwise regression analysis and a general linear model. Among the workplace design factors, self-reported data on seating type and partition height had the most significant correlations with the satisfaction levels of speech privacy. Meanwhile, among the personal factors, overhearing, task disturbance, noise sensitivity, attitude, space modifiability, and behavioural coping were significantly correlated with speech privacy satisfaction levels. The stepwise regression analysis and general linear model indicated that task disturbance, space modifiability, and behavioural coping contributed more to satisfaction with speech privacy than other factors.