Structural equation modelling of building quality constructs as a predictor of satisfaction in subsidised low-income housing

Abstract

Residents’ satisfaction with the building quality and housing condition features has received an increasing recognition as a significant factor which influences the occupants’ satisfaction with their housing units. This paper reports the use of Structural Equation Modelling technique to test the influence of building quality features as a predictor of residents’ satisfaction. The study was conducted amongst South Africa housing practitioners’ and the low-income housing occupants’. Data used in the study were obtained from a Delphi and field questionnaire study. Primary data were collected by a face-to-face administered questionnaire survey conducted among 751 low-income housing residents’ in three metropolitan and one district municipality in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Data gathered via the questionnaire survey were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) which was used to assess the factorial structure of the constructs. Using Structural Equation Modelling software - EQS version 6.2, the factorial structure, reliability and validity of building quality features indicator variables were investigated. The statistical results support the research hypothesised positive relationship that building quality feature has a direct influence in predicting residents’ satisfaction with their houses. Also, the influence of building quality feature on residents’ satisfaction was statistically significant. Further SEM analysis revealed that the Rho and the Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of internal consistency were over 0.70 criterions for acceptability, and the constructs shows a good mode fit to the sample data. The Zstatistics analysis also revealed that the constructs have direct influence in determining low-income residents’ satisfaction with their houses. The result advocates a practical consideration of these construct in future development of subsidised low-income housing in South Africa.