Quality criteria for multi-domain studies in the indoor environment: Critical review towards research guidelines and recommendations
Review article, 2022

The perception, physiology, behavior, and performance of building occupants are influenced by multi-domain exposures: the simultaneous presence of multiple environmental stimuli, i.e., visual, thermal, acoustic, and air quality. Despite being extensive, the literature on multi-domain exposures presents heterogeneous methodological approaches and inconsistent study reporting, which hinder direct comparison between studies and meta-analyses. Therefore, in addition to carrying out more multi-domain studies, such investigations need to be designed, conducted, and documented in a systematic and transparent way. With the goal to facilitate and support future multi-domain studies and their meta-analyses, this work provides (1) a range of criteria for multi-domain study design and reporting (i.e., defined as quality criteria), and (2) a critical review of the multi-domain literature based on the described criteria, which can serve as guidelines and recommendations for future studies on the topic. The identified quality criteria encompass study set-up, study deployment and analysis, and study outcome, stressing the importance of adopting a consistent terminology and result reporting style. The developed critical review highlights several shortcomings in the design, deployment, and documentation of multi-domain studies, emphasizing the need for quality improvements of future multi-domain research. The ultimate goal of this work is to consolidate our knowledge on multi-domain exposures for its integration into regulatory resources and guidelines, which are currently dominated by single-domain knowledge.

Research quality assurance

Human comfort

Combined effects

IEQ

Transparent reporting

Cross-modal effects

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Published in

Building and Environment

0360-1323 (ISSN)

Vol. 226 art. no 109719

Categorizing

Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)

Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics

Software Engineering

Human Computer Interaction

Identifiers

DOI

10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109719

More information

Latest update

7/17/2024