The importance of window view: Using an exploratory factor analysis to uncover the underlying latent dimensions

Author(s): Kent, Michael George | Abstract: This report outlines a statistical method used to evaluate the subjective ratings given to an image of a window view. An online survey containing questionnaire items that I believe influence the observer’s perception of the view were listed and distributed online. In total, 181 subjective responses were collected. Participants were asked to rate each item in the survey based on the perceived level of agreement or importance for each question. To analyse the data, I used an exploratory factor analysis. Of the 30 question items listed in the survey, four underlying latent factors were extracted. Namely: ‘subjective responses to the window view’, ‘physical features of the view’, ‘physical features of the window’, and ‘work-related responses’, respectively. These are listed in order of the amount of variance that they could explain within the data. The results of the analysis show how responses to several different questionnaire items refer to the same latent factor. I believe that the findings can be used towards the development of a predictive model to evaluate window view satisfaction. Specifically, when measuring a smaller, but manageable number of subjective responses in a survey to explain a complex construct of human behaviour such as the perceived importance of window view.