| Abstract: | Discusses a case study of psychological consultation provided by a university counseling center working with university administrators in a student housing setting to evaluate the psychological impact of design changes in the communal dining area of a high-rise dormitory. Two research strategies were employed in the evaluation: (a) A self-report measure of satisfaction was administered to a total of 564 students in a pre-postchange format, and (b) behavioral changes were assessed through behavioral observations of 676 students in changed and unchanged areas of the setting. Results indicate that the design changes were highly successful in terms of improving the opportunity for social contact, increasing privacy, and diminishing the overall institutional appearance of the setting. Implications are drawn concerning the role of the counselor as an environmental consultant. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
