Values as determinants of preferences for housing

Preferences for housing attributes have been studied from different theoretical perspectives and with a great variety of methodological approaches. In explaining hous- ing preferences the influence of both macro-level and micro-level factors has been shown extensively. Relatively little attention has been given, though, to motivational micro-level factors such as goals and values. In this article micro-level motivational factors are studied as determinants of stated preferences for housing attributes. The relationships between such motivational factors as values and goals on the one hand and preferences for housing attributes on the other are considered from the perspective of means-end theory. A semi -structured interviewing technique called laddering is used for the measurement of means-end chains. Some of the results of a pilot project in which means-end theory was applied to preferences for housing attributes will be discussed in the sequel.

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