American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, 2016, Vol. 4, No. 5, 159-164 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajcea/4/5/2 ©Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/ajcea-4-5-2 In the Eyes of the Beholder: Students’ Degree of Satisfaction with Traditional versus Suite Style Residence Halls Azadeh Eshaghi, Fatemeh Khozaei * Department of Architecture, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran *Corresponding author: fkhozaei2013@gmail.com Abstract This study aims at comparing the degree of students’ satisfaction in relationship with traditional and suite style residence halls. A sample population of 209 students residing in four traditional and suite style residence halls participated in the survey from April to June 2015. The questionnaire consisted of 15 items. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 17.0 was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe some demographic information of the sample. To test the hypothesis, an independent sample t-test was used to analyze the data. Following the data analysis, a series of interviews were conducted with 20 students. The results of quantitative data showed that suite style residents were less satisfied with their housing. Analyzing the interviews revealed that even though the suit style residents had enjoyed a better design, physical condition and maintenance compared to their counterparts from the traditional residence halls, they held higher expectations about the hall environments and felt that reality were short of their expectations. Keywords: traditional residence halls, satisfaction suite style residence halls Cite This Article: Azadeh Eshaghi, and Fatemeh Khozaei, “In the Eyes of the Beholder: Students’ Degree of Satisfaction with Traditional versus Suite Style Residence Halls.” American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, vol. 4, no. 5 (2016): 159-164. doi: 10.12691/ajcea-4-5-2. 1. Introduction Despite the temporary nature of student housing, it is very important to take into account the students’ needs requirement and satisfaction. Previous studies have shown that housing satisfaction plays a mediating role between individual’s fulfilled preferences for a place and a sense of attachment to it [9]. Accordingly, the more students are satisfied with their residence halls, they are more likely to develop a sense of attachment to them. Several studies have focused on positive and negative aspects of both traditional and suite style residence halls [3,4]. Here a question arises, are the suite style residence hall students more satisfied with their residence comparing traditional residence hall students? In the other hand is there any association between residence hall type and students’ satisfaction? By comparing of two residence halls from 2 universities in Iran, the current study aims to answer these questions. 2. Literature Review 2.1. Student Housing Satisfaction A vast array of studies has investigated the positive aspects of living on campus. On campus students seem to be more engaged with the academic environment [2], achieve a greater personal growth (Schroeder & Mable, 1994), have a better social interaction with the other peers (Ballou, Reavill, & Schultz, 1995), indicate a better academic performance [11], are significantly open to diversity in comparison with off campus students [14], and get significantly higher grade point average [17]. Students hold different views about the same residence hall they are staying in. Previous research show that differences in the views of students is associated with gender and other demographic backgrounds [1]. A Perusal review of literature highlights the role of physical attributes in the residence hall students’ satisfaction. For example, Kaya and Erkip [7]s’ study found a relationship between the floor height and the students’ perception of room size. In particular, they found that those who were staying on the highest floor of the residence halls perceived their room larger and less crowded comparing to those who were on the lowest floors. Give such an association, Kaya and Erkip postulated that the more students perceived their rooms private they were more likely to be satisfied with them. Karlin et al.’s study [6] examined the negative influences of overcrowded rooms on the students’ academic achievement and satisfaction. In their study, three students were put in a room that was designed for two students. The result revealed that the students’ GPA dropped dramatically and they were also significantly less satisfied, felt unhappier and more depressed than the two students who had to stay in a double sharing room. This question is that whether the students’ satisfaction differs significantly in low rise and high rise buildings? In