Semantic Differential Questionnaire Research Articles

Wooden Interiors Improve Heart Rate Variability-Derived Psychophysiological Well-Being: An Acute Cross-Over Study

Mental health is a significant public concern. Given that individuals spend extended periods indoors, understanding the psychophysiological health effects of indoor materials on well-being is crucial. This study compared the effects of wooden and resin plaster rooms on psychophysiological well-being. Well-being was assessed using heart rate variability measurements and an affective well-being questionnaire. Subjective perceptions were also evaluated using a semantic differential questionnaire. The results indicated higher heart rate variability in the wooden room compared to the reference room. Participants breathed about one breath per minute more slowly in the wooden room, with a negative correlation between heart rate variability and respiratory rate. Positive affect was elevated, and negative affect was reduced in the wooden room, which was also perceived more favorably in sensory evaluations. The findings suggest that wooden interiors are preferred over artificial materials, enhancing both physiological and psychological well-being.

Visual Perception Optimization of Residential Landscape Spaces in Cold Regions Using Virtual Reality and Machine Learning

The visual perception of landscape spaces between residences in cold regions is important for public health. To compensate for the existing research ignoring the cold snow season’s influence, this study selected two types of outdoor landscape space environments in non-snow and snow seasons as research objects. An eye tracker combined with a semantic differential (SD) questionnaire was used to verify the feasibility of the application of virtual reality technology, screen out the gaze characteristics in the landscape space, and reveal the design factors related to landscape visual perception. In the snow season, the spatial aspect ratio (SAR), building elevation saturation (BS), and grass proportion in the field of view (GP) showed strong correlations with the landscape visual perception scores (W). In the non-snow season, in addition to the above three factors, the roof height difference (RHD), tall-tree height (TTH), and hue contrast (HC) also markedly influenced W. The effects of factors on W were revealed in immersive virtual environment (IVE) orthogonal experiments, and the genetic algorithm (GA) and k-nearest neighbor algorithm (KNN) were combined to optimize the environmental factors. The optimized threshold ranges in the non-snow season environment were SAR: 1.82–2.15, RHD: 10.81–20.09 m, BS: 48.53–61.01, TTH: 14.18–18.29 m, GP: 0.12–0.15, and HC: 18.64–26.83. In the snow season environment, the optimized threshold ranges were SAR: 2.22–2.54, BS: 68.47–82.34, and GP: 0.1–0.14.

Informal Community Growing Characteristics and the Satisfac-tion of Concerned Residents in Mountainous Urban Areas of Southwest China.

Due to the mountainous terrain in the urban areas of southwest China, there are a large number of barren slopes in the community unsuitable for construction. These areas, alongside other unusable space which is often cultivated by residents to create informal community vegetable gardens and fruit growing areas, have become a "gray area" for urban management. This paper attempts to study the characteristics of informal community growing, the composition of growers, the motivation for growing, and the satisfaction of residents in urban areas in mountainous southwest China to explore its relative value. The sample area for the study was Yongchuan, Chongqing, Southwest China. Through a field survey, a semantic differential questionnaire, and data analysis, we found that: (1) growers use traditional cultivation methods to grow diverse fruits and vegetables according to the size of the slope, and the scale is so large that it serves as a local food supply; (2) growers are mainly vulnerable groups who use the land for economic gain and green food acquisition; and (3) growers and non-growers are more satisfied with the food supply and economic benefits generated by cultivation, while they are dissatisfied with the environmental and social benefits and the planting process. Satisfaction also varies with age, occupation, income, education, household registration, and farming experience. Based on the findings, this paper presents recommendations for the future transformation and development of informal community cultivation in mountainous areas. The study has implications for the construction of community gardens and urban agriculture in the mountains.

How Can Flowers and Their Colors Promote Individuals' Physiological and Psychological States during the COVID-19 Lockdown?

The global spread of COVID-19 has disrupted the normality of people’s daily lives, leading the population to social distancing and isolation. The closure of green areas also affected the well-being of the individual during the COVID-19 pandemic. Viewing flowers is expected to have similar positive effects to viewing natural scenery. Therefore, this study investigates how white, red, and yellow flower colors affect individuals’ psychological and physiological well-being. The experiment was conducted in an office-like setting with 50 participants. Participants looked at each flower color for 3 min. Electroencephalograms (EEGs), heart rate variability, and skin conductivity were measured to evaluate physiological responses along with both the semantic differential questionnaire (SD) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) to assess psychological responses. EEGs showed that the mean values of alpha relative power in the prefrontal lobe were significantly higher when viewing yellow and red flowers vs. white flowers. Furthermore, heart rate variability revealed that viewing yellow and red flowers increased parasympathetic nerve activity significantly. After viewing the yellow and red flowers, the average results for each subscale of the POMS questionnaire improved. The vigor (V) subscale and overall mood status values were significantly improved. The results of the SD method revealed that viewing yellow and red flowers resulted in a significantly higher sense of relaxation, cheerfulness, and comfort than viewing white flowers.

Foliage colors improve relaxation and emotional status of university students from different countries

The therapeutic advantages of seeing plants have gained increasing consideration in stressful modern societies, however, evidence-based studies on how physiological and emotional states of individuals from different nationalities change when seeing different foliage colors are limited. The study was conducted to explore the physiological and psychological advantages of foliage colors as visual stimuli. The experiment included 40 men from two nations (age: 21.34 ± 3.50 years) and was carried out using five foliage colors including green, light green, green-yellow, green-red and green-white. Participants were exposed to each color for 2 min, when seeing the foliage colors, eye movements and oxy-Hb concentrations were continuously measured. Subjective evaluations of emotions were performed utilizing a semantic differential questionnaire. A significant decrease in oxy-Hb concentration in the frontal lobe was associated with the viewing of green and green-white plants by the Japanese participants and with viewing light green and green-yellow by the Egyptian participants. Participants spent higher fixation numbers and longer durations on these colors. The findings indicate that viewing of these plant colors was positively associated with physiological relaxation. Furthermore, these colors were associated with more positive feelings, such as calmness, comfort and naturalness. Therefore, the presence of these colors in spaces may have positive impacts on relaxation and emotional status.

Window view and relaxation: Viewing green space from a high-rise estate improves urban dwellers’ wellbeing

The current challenges of urbanization and densification threaten the health of urban dwellers. Previous studies have shown that contact with; or perception of green spaces has beneficial impacts on human psychological wellbeing. However, residents and employees who live or work in high-rise buildings have little opportunity to access green spaces during working hours. We do not know whether viewing green space through a high-rise estate window can potentially contribute to the psychological wellbeing of urban dwellers. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to two offices, a window looking out onto urban space, or a window looking out onto green space from a wide-angle of the 21st floor of the Jin-Mao Tower. During visual stimulation, sensors took physiological measures of their stress levels by measuring Electroencephalography, heart rate variability, and skin conductance, while their psychological reactions were collected using Profile of Mood States and Semantic Differential Questionnaire. Results showed that compared with the urban space view; viewing green space through a high-rise window resulted in a significant increase in alpha wave power in the frontal and occipital lobes, a significant increase in parasympathetic activity; and a significant decrease in the skin conductance. Moreover; a significant increase in “comfortable”, “beautiful”, “attractive”, “relaxed”, and “cheerful’’ feelings, and a significant improvement in mood states. Window views can significantly lead to better mental health and psychological wellbeing for urban dwellers. The observed results highlight the significance of considering the window views in urban high-rise neighborhood planning and design.

Communication Support Tool With Data Glove Concept For People With Hearing Disability Using Kansai Engineering Method

The difficulty of communication that faced by the deaf and mute people make them complicated in doing activity like normal people. Sign language as a communication tool that has been formed at this time has not yet been able to connect communication with the community yet. It is only able to bridge communication among those fellow deaf and mute people. Therefore a tool which is able to translate sign language used by people with disabilities is needed. Thetool which able to translate sign language wascreated by Data Glove concept in design which can translate the word visually. Using the assistance of the Semantic Differential questionnaire, we can get the emotion level from user based on 12 Kansei words. The response in emotion form which is expresssed by users is one of theelements of the Kansei Engineering Method. Thus product adjustment to Kansei engineering is advisable and society.

Green façades: Their contribution to stress recovery and well-being in high-density cities

Rapid urbanization and the lack of green infrastructure threaten the health of urban dwellers. Green façades have been proposed as a green infrastructure solution to compensate for the loss of green spaces in dense city areas; however, as far as we know, there is inadequate evidence for associations between views of green façades and relaxation. This study aims to clarify the physiological and psychological relaxation effects of viewing a green façade landscape. Twenty-five Chinese females (23 ± 1.5 years) viewed a green façade landscape or a building-wall for 5 min. Data were generated using electroencephalographic, heart rate variability, and skin conductance physiological measures and psychological measures using a semantic differential questionnaire and a Profile of Mood State. Findings suggest that, compared to the viewing of the building wall, the viewing of the green façade resulted in a significant increase in alpha relative waves in the frontal and occipital lobes, a significant increase in parasympathetic activity, and a significant decrease in the skin conductance as well as a substantial increase in comfortable, relaxed, and natural feelings, and a significant improvement in mood state. The green façade appears to enhance human physiological and psychological relaxation compared to the building-wall.

Cross-cultural comparison of physiological and psychological responses to different garden styles

Previous studies have focused mostly on distinguishing between the benefits of spending time in natural spaces compared to urban spaces, but less is known about the restorative potential of gardens. The goal of this study is to investigate the physiological and psychological effects of viewing different garden styles on 57 university students from two countries (Japan and Canada). Three gardens with different styles, landscape, Japanese and architectural gardens located in Vancouver, Canada were used as the test sites. The participants' eye movements and heart rate variability were assessed while they were viewing each garden. After viewing each garden, the participants filled out a semantic differential questionnaire. We found that the Japanese garden attracted more fixations, but fixation durations varied among the garden styles. Extra fixation duration on a particular garden might be correlated with the detailed analysis of the garden’s elements. The mean HF data which reflected parasympathetic nervous activity increased on viewing the landscape garden. In addition, the participants were likely to choose the landscape garden as the most natural-looking. The results suggest that visual perception of gardens is not an isolated or uniform cognitive mechanism, but rather one that interacts with biological and cultural processes. To encourage the utilization of gardens as a resource for promoting wellbeing in urban spaces, further scientific evidence and collaboration among experts in the relevant fields is urgently needed.

VIRTUAL REALITY AS A REPRESENT OF SPATIAL PERCEPTION OF MAIN CHAPEL ROOM AT THE CHURCH OF LIGHT

<p class="Abstract"><em>The research focused on the Virtual Reality in order to represent spatial perception. The research object was a Virtual Reality simulation of Main Chapel at The Church of Light. There was 9 </em><em>spatial </em><em>perception category to describe Main Chapel at The Church of Light that founded from literature study. The research used a virtual reality simulation and a semantic differential questionnaire. There are 40 students joined the research. They divided into 2 groups of architectural background groups and non-architectural background groups. </em><em>They join the virtual reality simulation then tested with a semantic differential questionnaire.</em><em> </em><em>The research concluded with the effectiveness</em><em> </em><em>of Virtual Reality. The spatial perception of the main chapel at The Church </em><em>o</em><em>f Light can be represented using Virtual Reality simulation. According to 7 </em><em>spatial </em><em>perception category that is represented, Virtual Reality can be categorized as an effective medium</em><em> </em><em>to</em><em> representing spatial perception</em><em>. Moreover, anal</em><em>yze</em><em> results to6 pairs word that relate to 2 perception category that not in accordance with the literature study, specifically to the darkness and detail of the object. This could happen because of a lack of quality in Virtual Reality simulation product. The lack that produced from the low contrast effect and unmatched material reflection or miss match with the real condition.</em></p>

New insights into the psychological dimension of wood–human interaction

The effect a wooden-built environment exerts on the physical and psychological well-being of people has mostly been investigated by evaluation, through a limited number of sensory modalities, of small size stimuli. In this research, two real-size wooden and plaster indoor settings were used to examine the influence of wood on people’s emotions and perceptions. Three questionnaires assessed participants’ multimodal sensory, affective, and cognitive responses to the settings (Semantic Differential questionnaire), their emotional state (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule), and their environmental behaviour and biophilia degree (Nature Relatedness Scale). The results revealed that wood induces more positive emotions than plaster, and that individual biophilia degree appears to influence the tactile, auditory, and olfactory evaluation of the settings. It furthermore indicates how wood used in real buildings positively influences human psychological well-being and highlights the importance of considering multiple sensory modalities when investigating wood–human interaction.

An examination of students’ perceptions of their interprofessional placements in residential aged care

ABSTRACTIt is essential that health professionals are trained to provide optimal care for our ageing population. Key to this is a positive attitude to older adults along with the ability to work in teams and provide interprofessional care. There is limited evidence on the impact an interprofessional education (IPE) placement in a residential aged care facility (RACF) has on students. In 2015 in Western Australia, 51 students (30% male, median age 23 years), from seven professions, undertook a placement between 2 and 13 weeks in length at 1 RACF. Pre- and post-placement measurements of attitudes to the elderly were collected using the Ageing Semantic Differential (ASD) questionnaire and level of readiness for interprofessional learning with the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS). A total of 47 students completed matched ASD and RIPLS surveys. The mean total score on the ASD survey decreased significantly from pre- to post-placement from 116.0 to 108.9 (p = 0.033), indicating attitudes became increasingly positive towards older adults. Significant differences post-placement were seen indicating better readiness for interprofessional learning, for two out of four subscales on the RIPLS, namely “teamwork & collaboration” (42.1–44.0; (p = 0.000)) and “positive professional identity” (18.2–19.3 (p = 0.001)). The degree of change is similar to findings from other settings. The results support IPE-focussed student placements within RACF positively influence student’s attitudes towards the older adult as well as increase student’s readiness for interprofessional learning, confirming RACF are valuable places for training health professionals.

高速道路休憩施設におけるアプローチ広場の植栽がもつ生理・心理的効果

This research was aimed at analyzing functions of trees at spaces of highway-rest-areas. The experiment was conducted at Sayama Parking Area, Sayama, Saitama prefecture in Japan. 20 students participated in this study to measure their physiological and psychological responses to 8 different scenes of shops and parking lot with large trees approximately 440cm in height, middle trees, approximately 180cm in height, shrubs approximately 70cm in height or no planting. During the exposure time of eye movements, heart rate and heart-rate-variability were recorded as well as near-infrared spectroscopy were used to measure the brain activity. The participants were asked to describe their impressions by the semantic differential questionnaire. The results showed that middle trees had effects that attract participant's eyes on trees and increase the cerebral activity in the association area and so on. Participants felt scenes with middle trees comfortable, vigorous and so on. These results suggested middle trees brought participants into a refreshed state. The cerebral activity of participants looking at parking lot with large trees was sedated in the association area and so on as well as participants felt comfortable, calm, secure and so on. These results suggested large trees brought participants into a relaxed state.

The Influence of Teaching Methods on Learners’ Perception of E-safety

Aim/Purpose: The traditional method of teaching e-safety by lecturing is not very effective. Despite learners often being equipped with the right knowledge, they reject the need to act accordingly. There is a need to improve the way digital e-safety is taught. Background: The study compares four different teaching styles, examining how each affected the way students perceive a range of e-safety keywords and consequently the way they approach this issue. Methodology: The semantic differential technique was used to carry out the research. Students completed a semantic differential questionnaire before and after lessons. A total of 405 first year undergraduates took part in the study. Contribution: The paper contributes to the debate on appropriate methods for teaching e-safety, with an aim to influence learners’ attitudes. Findings: Experience-based learning seems to be very effective, confronting students with an e-safety situation and providing them with a negative experience. This teaching method had the biggest influence on students who were deceived by the prepared e-safety risk situation. Recommendations for Practitioners: E-safety instruction can be enhanced by ensuring that lessons provide students with a personal experience. Recommendation for Researchers: The semantic differential technique can be used to measure changes in learners’ attitudes during the teaching process. Impact on Society: Our findings may bring improvements to the way e-safety topics are taught, which could, in turn, evoke in learners a more positive e-safety attitude and a desire to improve their e-safety behavior. Future Research: More research needs to be carried out to examine how the experiential learning method affects the attitudes of younger learners (primary, middle, and high school students).

Who Needs Goals? A Case Study of a Goal-Free Evaluation

Background: Goal-free evaluation (GFE) is any evaluation in which the evaluator conducts the evaluation without knowledge of or reference to predetermined goals and objectives whereas the goal-based evaluator determines merit according to the evaluand’s goal achievement. Purpose: To examine a GFE in actual practice focusing on its operationalization as well as paying particular attention to the evaluation users’ perspective of its utility. Setting: The evaluand was a day long training of summer camp counselors on occupational therapy (OT) related skills such as feeding, dressing, and bathing. Intervention: GFE was the intervention however for comparison purposes an independent and simultaneous goal-based evaluation (GBE) also evaluated the evaluand. Research Design: Case study. Data Collection and Analysis: After the evaluation users read both the GBE and GFE reports, data collection consisted of a semantic differential questionnaires followed by a focus group. Additionally, the research team analyzed both GBE and GFE reports for relevant themes. Findings: The evaluation users reported a slightly more positive attitude toward the GFE report on the semantic differential yet many focus group respondents stated that they found the GBE report more useful or perceived no difference between the two. Evaluation users reported the benefits of GFE to include its potential for developing or aligning goals, expanding the pool of potential outcomes, and supplementing GBE strategies.

Effects of VOCs from leaves of Acer truncatum Bunge and Cedrus deodara on human physiology and psychology

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of volatile compounds emitted by Acer truncatum Bunge and Cedrus deodara on human physiology and psychology. Volatile compounds were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) techniques. Physiological indicators were measured using a multi-channel recording system and a subjective evaluation was conducted using a semantic differential (SD) questionnaire. GC–MS results indicated that the main volatile compounds of A. truncatum Bunge included 3-hexen-1-ol acetate, 3-hexen-1-ol, acetic acid hexyl ester, and the main volatile compounds from C. deodara included β-myrcene, D-limonene, pinene and β-caryophyllene. Physiological results indicated that blood oxygen saturation (BOS) increased 0.42%, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) all reduced, heart rate reduced 5.03%, and the interval of R wave and R wave (RR interval) shortened 5.07% after sniffing volatile compounds from C. deodara. These indicators were not significantly different from controls after sniffing volatile compounds from Acer truncatum. Nearly 50% of respondents reported liking the smell of A. truncatum Bunge and C. deodara, and associated the smell with a natural feeling. Subjects also reported that the smell of C. deodara (relaxing 0.96) made them more relaxed than A. truncatum Bunge (relaxing 0.34).

Preliminary Development of a Multidimensional Semantic Patient Experience Measurement Questionnaire.

The purpose of this research was to assess the utility and reliability of a multidimensional patient experience measurement questionnaire in a clinical setting. Patient experience has emerged as an important metric for quality of healthcare. A number of separate concepts have been used to measure patient experience, but psychological research suggests that subjective experience is actually a composite of several independent concepts including: (a) evaluation/valence, (b) potency/control, (c) activity/arousal, and (d) novelty. The present research evaluates the reliability of a multidimensional patient experience measurement questionnaire in a clinical setting. A multidimensional semantic differential questionnaire was developed to measure the four underlying semantic dimensions of patient experience mentioned above. A group of 60 patients used the questionnaire to assess prescan expectations and postscan experience of a magnetic resonance scan. Data for one patient were deleted because their scan was interrupted. Results revealed more positive evaluation/valence, higher potency/control, and lower activity/arousal for postscan ratings compared to prescan expectations. Ratings of novelty were neutral in both the prescan and the postscan conditions. Subsequent analysis suggested that internal consistency for some concepts could be improved by replacing several specific rating scales. Present results provide evidence of the utility and reliability of a multidimensional semantic questionnaire for measuring patient experience in an actual clinical setting. Recommendations to improve internal consistency for the concepts potency/control, activity/arousal, and novelty were also provided.

Human resources’ student’s sensitivity to factors of sustainability

Abstract This paper analyzes the sensitivity of college students to sustainability factors, including their definition of the concept and their perception of human resources management as a factor of sustainability. The prospects of the construct of sustainability – from the United Nations Conference in 1972, in Stockholm, to contemporary achievements and theoretical explorations-are reviewed as a conceptual framework. The research among college students has been developed along two lines: the study of their idea of sustainability; and the assessment of people’s management practices as a factor of sustainability. The research combined the use of a semantic differential questionnaire and a focus group to collect data and to complement the quantitative data with a more qualitative vision and understanding. The results consolidate the idea that: it is interesting to use the sustainability concept in combination with the complexity level of contexts; students of HRM are well informed about the concept; and that their attitudes on the subject are positive, as they are motivated to lead companies to adopt sustainable practices in human resource management, as an effective sustainability factor.

Clinical Study: Change in Outlook Towards Birth After a Midwife Led Antenatal Education Programme Versus Hypnoreflexogenous Self-Hypnosis Training for Childbirth.

Aim: To compare the change of maternal outlook towards birth due to a midwife led antenatal education programme versus hypnoreflexogenous self-hypnosis training for childbirth. Method: Before beginning of the classes and after the last class maternal perception on birth was evaluated using Osgood semantic differential questionnaire. The Gießen personality score was evaluated once. Results: 213 patients were enrolled in this study. 155 were in the midwife led education programme and 58 in the self-hypnosis training programme. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in regard of participants' characteristics, Gießen personality score and initial Osgood semantic differential scores. After the midwife led course childbirth was emotionally more negatively scored (displeasure, tarnishing, dimension evaluation [p < 0.05]), whereas after the hypnosis course childbirth was emotionally more positively evaluated (pleasure, harmony, dimension evaluation [p < 0.01] and brightness [p < 0.05]). Summary: In this study hypnoreflexogenous self-hypnosis training resulted in a positive maternal outlook towards childbirth, in comparison to the midwife led course. Further prospective randomised studies are required to test these initial results.

Pre-service teachers’ attitudes towards information communication technology

Integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into education has been an important concern in many countries. The purpose of the study was to find out the attitudes of pre-service teachers towards Information and Communication Technology. Descriptive survey design was used for this study, and a semantic differential questionnaire with seven options was used to measure the attitudes of preservice teachers towards ICT. Three hundred students drawn from Level 400 of a department in the University of Cape Coast in Ghana were selected to form the sample for the study using the stratified random sampling technique. From the study, the preservice teachers showed positive attitude to ICT with a mean score of five for all the subscales of the questionnaire which translates as ‘slightly important’. The research reviewed that overall, preservice teachers can be categorised at the “understanding and application of process” stage of the technology adoption stages. A further analysis was conducted to find out the predominant stage of technology adoption among the preservice teachers. It was realised that majority of the respondents rated themselves at the “understanding and application of process” stage which was followed by “learning the process” stage. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to investigate if the mean differences among stages of adoption of technology and attitudes towards technology being observed are statistically significant. The study revealed that preservice teachers technology adoption stage differed based on their attitudes towards technology. The preservice teachers showed positive attitude to ICT.