AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH OF BUILDING AMENITIES IN PANEL BLOCK BUILDINGS IN THE
CZECH REPUBLIC
a
DAGMAR KUTÁ
VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, Faculty of Civil
Engineering, Czech Republic
email:
a
dagmar.kuta@vsb.cz
The work were supported by funds for Conteptual Development of Science, Research
and Innovation for 2019 allocated to VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava by the
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.
Abstract: This paper deals with the issues of the building amenities of panel buildings
from the perspective of the realistic usability by the residents. To determine the
weighted user comfort, the paper used, as general input methods of processing the
issue, descriptive statistics, or more precisely put, qualitative research. This method
was chosen for its best informative ability to arrive at certain results based on an in-
depth comprehension of the details. The subject is very timely and necessary, with
respect to the necessity of regeneration of the housing inventory in the Czech
Republic. This is not just a theoretical problem, but must also be addressed in practice.
Keywords: panel building, building amenities, quantitative research, usability.
1 Introduction
1.1 Working Hypotheses
Hypothesis_1
The current demands for the existence of building infrastructure
in (panel) apartment buildings are directly proportional to their
originally intended functions.
Hypothesis _2
The real usability of building amenities in (panel) apartment
buildings is greater or smaller depending on the size of the
apartment units.
Hypothesis _3
There exists a relationship between the placement of the selected
building amenities within the context of a (panel) apartment
building and its real usability.
1.2 Work Methodology
Table 1: Description of data collection in quantitative research.
(Punch, 2015).
Quantitative data collection
Research sample of people is a large number of respondents
Performed primarily using questionnaire surveys
Examines the issues tangentially
Not time demanding
Deduction
1
from the results
Statistical processing of data
1
Deduction = is a process of judging in which assumptions lead
to conclusions that are reached from these assumptions, whereas
the derivation is certain, not merely probable. It is therefore the
basic procedure for proof.
1.3 Quantitative Research
Data collection using standardized questionnaires (focused on
confirmation or refutation of hypotheses 1 – 3) on building
amenities in apartment buildings.
For data collection, the Netquest.cz, portal was used, which is
publicly accessible and so ensures a wide range of respondents.
Quantitative methods are best suited to exploring simple and
measurable traits, or combinations thereof, in large and more or
less homogeneous populations. For more complex and
unmeasurable indicators, it is necessary to scale, and their
reliability and comparability naturally fall, especially if the
questions are not formulated unambiguously. Therefore,
quantitative methods are combined with qualitative (Punch,
2015).
1.4 Research Methods
CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interviewing) or On-line
querying
the fastest and most affordable method of surveying in
quantitative research
interviewing is via the Internet, the respondent fills in the
questionnaire directly on the website (Netquest.cz)
Respondents' responses are automatically sent to the email
owner of the questionnaire where they can be continuously
checked during the data collection
the main advantages are speed, low financial cost,
possibility to include multimedia materials and easy error
correction in the questionnaire
PAPI (Paper and Pen Interviewing) or personal questioning
is more flexible than written questionnaires- allows one to
add observations
the sampling structure is carefully selected by the
interviewer and there is no problem with returns of the
questionnaires
A competent interviewer inspires interest in answering and
explaining even more demanding questions and notes open
answers
a potential negative factor that may have an impact is the
respondent's concern about the loss of anonymity and the
resulting inhibitions.
as a non-standardized interview, it approaches qualitative
methods, as it examines the respondent's motivation and
gives him room for more extensive expression
(CAMPBELL, 2014)
2 Identification of the Issue According to Examination of
Public Materials Available on the Issue
During the period of construction of apartment buildings, it was
common for every new building to have building amenities that
designed for it and also used extensively, whereas nowadays
these spaces rarely fulfill their originally intended function.
The design of a building was meant to always be a natural
response to the needs of a user whose housing requirements
change over time.
The question arises as to whether the purpose of building
equipment should be totally restricted by fixed principles as
defined by the standard, or should be more focused on real use
and respond to the changing needs of the user.
Prior to the design (reconstructions) of the layout of a building
and apartment, it is necessary to clarify the demands for
operating relationships, functional and across-the-board
requirements. (OSTANSKA, 2019)
It is also necessary to realize that the form of housing determines
the purpose of the building amenities of apartment buildings, in
particular with respect to the highest possible profit.
3 Research
Quantitative research consists in examining relationships
between variables, how variables depend on each other, and
why. This will help to establish the conclusions of the
predetermined research hypotheses 1 - 3 and then to meet the
objective - the proposal for measures and recommendations for
solving individual identified problems (see previous section).
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