Abstracts Economics

Opinions related to carpeting in public buildings

by Madonna Cord Matheson

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether carpeting in offices and schools had an effect on the physical and socio-psychological aspects of the people working in or visiting these locations. Two questionnaires were developed to obtain the data. One questionnaire was designed to elicit public opinion regarding carpeting in general and its use in specific locations. A second questionnaire was developed to gather information about environmental changes that may have been observed or experienced by people working in carpeted offices. The sample for Questionnaire1 included 100 people who visited a suite of offices which were carpeted for this experiment. Questionnaire #2 involved 32 college employees who had worked in both carpeted and uncarpeted offices. Two laboratory tests were conducted to determine the projected performance of selected characteristics of the test carpeting. Samples were tested for color fastness to light and pile recovery. The results of this study indicated that people liked and approved of the use of carpeting in public buildings in specific locations. These included general offices and school administration offices. The sample for Questionnaire #1 objected to using carpeting in school classrooms, corridors, and food service areas when consideration was given to the economical and practical aspects. The sample for Questionnaire #1 objected to using carpeting in school classrooms, corridors, and food service areas when consideration was given to the economical and practical aspects. The opinions of the office personnel who had worked in both carpeted and uncarpeted schools indicated that they believed textile floor coverings had an overall positive effect on people. This included visitor behavior as well as employee morale and physical fatigue.