Thesis and Research Data Repository Leeds Beckett University
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How Building Design Molds Human Behaviour and Emotion
No full textThe intricate relationship between architectural spaces and human psychology has been an area of intense research, with evidence suggesting that our physical environment profoundly influences behaviour, emotions, and well-being (Goldhagen, 2017). As urbanisation accelerates and people spend more time indoors, studies predict 68% of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2050 (Kundu,2020). This trend underscores the critical need to understand the impact of building design on human experiences.This research paper adopts a pragmatist worldview, it identifies and analyses specific architectural and interior design elements that shape behavioural patterns and affective states within built environments. Our research aspires to generate evidence-based design methods, potentially improving the quality of life across many environments.This research paper employs a mixed methods approach, primarily emphasising qualitative techniques supplemented by quantitative data. The data collection involves a survey with Likert-scale questions, to measure subjective experiences, and open-ended questions, to gather in-depth personal accounts. The study recruited participants with construction expertise and everyday people from various built environments. Data analysis follows a mixed-method approach, analysing the Likert-scale responses statistically and conducting a thematic analysis on the qualitative data. The findings are then compared against existing research literature, creating an in-depth response.The research paper examines fundamental architectural aspects to discover how they influence a person's behaviour and emotions. Room layout, acoustic design, ceiling height, lighting, colour scheme, material selection, and biophilic design were all investigated. Themes have been discovered for each element and supported by secondary sources. This has enabled the development of evidence-based design principles that benefit emotions and behaviours across a wide range of environments, resulting in a greater emphasis on this subject rather than solely financial gain.</p
Implementing Behaviour Change in Accessing Mental Health Provisions in UK Construction
No full textMental health awareness has been increasing in significance for many years with arguably a renewed focus on employees’ mental health and wellbeing since the end of the pandemic. Those within society who are particularly prone to suffer the worst from mental health issues are males and those from low socio-economic backgrounds. Therefore, given that the UK construction industry is made up of individuals that fulfil these criteria, the industry needs to ensure its mental health wellbeing provision is effective. However, there is a gap in current understanding around the level of effectiveness of current mental health provisions. Adopting a constructivist ontological perspective, this research addresses this gap using narrative analysis informed semi-structured interviews. Analysis reveals that all participants believe there is a need for mental health awareness provision in UK construction but significantly no participant reported using such services or witnessing anyone who had previously. The barriers identified as potentially limiting mental health wellbeing provision include how accessing such services would be perceived by colleagues, the participants industry experience, and the amount (or lack) of support provided by each contractor to its workforce. This research contributes to the awareness of mental health provision in the UK construction industry. It provides recommendations on how behaviour change can be implemented to facilitate greater access to mental health wellbeing services.</p
Power, corruption, exploitation and abuse in the early film industry
No full textBy the late nineteenth century, moving image technology allowed audiences to view and experience the world in a new and unique way. It was also at the beginning of its existence as an industry, and so prone to developing characteristics frequently associated with corporate power – corruption, exploitation and abuse. This study examines the evidence for the existence of these qualities, taking into account the unusual nature of the film manufacturing process itself. This evidence is used to explore a key assertion of the Frankfurt School that, during this period, film and other cultural industries contributed to the development of the increasingly totalitarian and Fascistic traits found in Western society. For the Frankfurt School, capital was the driver that steered individuals and groups to act in ways counter to the laws and understandings on which civilisation was predicated. This study considers the proposition of how film, as a commercial industry, was subject to these impulses and therefore how repeatedly examples of corruption, exploitation and abuse can be traced in its history.
Breaking the industry down into three components – the corporate, the personnel and the products – the workings of power and profit are explored for their underpinning of strategies that ensured that its profits were routed in the desired direction. First, ownership and domination had to be established. Then, the production line had to be kept working to ensure that films continued to be generated to feed the distribution and exhibition networks. To do this, hierarchies had to be asserted and maintained and there was no room for deviation or dissent. Maintaining this system at times involved overriding the notions of fairness, truth and legality. The results of these strategies ranged across the gamut of criminal and unethical behaviour – from sexual abuse to violence and slaughter.</p
Exploring yoga access and inclusion for people with marginalised identities in northern British cities
No full textYoga offers multiple health and wellbeing benefits and is socially prescribed by clinicians in the NHS as part of health promotion measures in the United Kingdom (UK). However, socially marginalised groups are under-represented and yoga participants, or practitioners, are predominantly white, higher educated women. This research contributes to the knowledge by exploring, for the first time, the yoga access experiences of people with a broad range of marginalised identities in a UK context. It was prompted by my experiences of teaching yoga to diverse groups in a northern British city neighbourhood amongst the 10% most deprived in the country.
Purposive sampling was employed to recruit 17 people from four northern UK cities who had practised, or participated in, yoga in the previous six months, but did not consider themselves to be yoga insiders, and who self-identified with one or more of seven marginalised identities, namely: Black, Brown or other people of colour; disabled; older (later life); LGBTQIA+; of a larger body type; from a religious faith or background; or on a low income. Data was collected via 1-1 teleconferencing software interviews during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and analysed initially using thematic analysis and, subsequently, using a critical theory-based approach.
Nine barriers to yoga access were initially identified using thematic analysis: cost, place, discomfort, physicality, appearance, behaviour, people, potential distress, and alien-ness. These were intersectional in impact and experienced across the range of identities studied. Additionally, nine areas of barrier effect were identified using a critical theory-based approach, these were: Inclusion and access; Whiteness/ableism; Postcolonialism and cultural/religious appropriation; Commercialisation/neoliberalism; Unaware of/don’t see; I was lucky; Belief in loveliness; and Power/challenge. These areas arose from practices and norms within the social institution of UK Yoga and could be associated with emerging criticisms in the literature.
Findings were that a range of barriers to yoga access were experienced, some of which could be attributed to practices and norms within the social institution of UK Yoga. These barriers could be seen to contribute to the health inequalities faced by marginalised groups and could be associated with the social determinants of health. Recommendations are for appraisal and revision of delivery of yoga in the UK including: teacher training; pedagogy and language; tailored approaches; examination of privilege; and sharing of power. Further research is indicated with yoga ‘insiders’ with marginalised identities.</p
‘Smartifying’ Construction for Circular and Zero-Carbon Biobased Buildings (SmartBioC)
No full textSmartBioC focuses on creating a user-friendly digital tool that allows users to select and specify biobased materials and building components for a modular housing unit based on a set of performance indicators including carbon footprint, thermal performance, cost, social value, health and wellbeing and strength. The ultimate aim of the tool is to speed up the uptake of circular biobased materials to provide zerocarbon, healthy and socially and economically viable solutions for the construction industry. Smart construction, integrating the use of digital technologies and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has the potential to improve the affordability, efficiency, and sustainability of new buildings. Aligned to a circular economic model, opportunities exist to optimise the use, reuse, and disposal of biobased materials within the expanding MMC housing market, thereby improving carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change. Together with industry partners, SmartBioC’s research team is using the Design Council's Double Diamond Framework of discover, define, develop, deliver, to facilitate a collaborative and iterative process where the end-user is at the centre and determines the final outcome. To date SmartBioC has undertaken an exploratory review of the literature, an early concept modelling using Autodesk Revit, and an outline performance specification for the biobased products defined. A BIM Object library of MMC category 2 components with alternative biobased material configurations is under development for exporting to gaming platform Unity. Rapid prototyping and testing in Unity will ensure that a web-based tool (html) is distributed to users for feedback and development purposes. Userfriendly digital tools like SmartBioC gives end-users, designers, decision-makers and specifiers, the ability to easily select circular biobased materials whilst visualising their design in 3D, along with information about the environmental, economic and social impacts of their choices. The adoption by the construction industry of zero-carbon, healthy and socially and economically viable biobased building solutions is imperative if the catastrophic impacts of predicted global warming are to be averted.#</p
(Re)Designing a Sports School Scholarship Programme
No full textSports scholarship programmes are used internationally within academic and sporting organisations to attract and develop athletes. Resources such as a fee remission, no cost to training, facilities or accommodation are incentives offered to separate organisations from competitors and attract exceptional candidates. However, despite their global application, very little research explores the effectiveness of these programmes. This professional doctorate project (re)designs a U.K. sports school sports scholarship programme considering principles of ‘talent’, the talent development environment (TDE), dual career (DC) competency development, allocation of resources, holistic development and talent identification (TI) procedures. The project then evaluates this programme and provides reflections in my professional role.The project is grounded in a constructivist approach utilising action research to generate knowledge from personal driven and theory driven data to prescribe pragmatic solutions. Iterative cycles allow for broad theories to be examined, designed, acted and evaluated. Key stakeholder perspectives from both student-athletes, sports coaches and teachers informed the (re)design process. Firstly, staff perspectives were collated to evaluate an established (>12 years) sports scholarship programme alongside student-athlete’s perceptions of the TDE and their possession of important DC competencies. Findings, led to investigating head of sports (HoS) perception of talent through a focus group with thematic analysis identifying staff could not agree on a definition of talent. Subsequently, the term, ‘talent’, was removed from the definition of selecting sports scholars with coaches identifying desirable behaviours and capabilities instead. Alongside, sports coaches completed a questionnaire on the strategy and vision of a sports scholarship programme. Three key purposes of a sports scholarship programme were identified through thematic analysis, including 1) to deliver a holistic development opportunity, 2) to be a marketing strategy and, 3) to recognise student achievements.A financial redesign of the sports scholarship programme was undertaken with two primary aims, 1) to save the school money and 2) ensure student-athlete development was a key factor in strategic and policy decision-making. A remodel was successful in reducing the sports scholarship budget to the school whilst also creating three strands of funding support to student-athletes. Furthermore, it created a fourth strand that allocated a specific budget for the sports scholarship programme to invest in a holistic athlete development programme.The findings from coaches' interpretation of talent initiated the development of a new TI and selection tool spanning multiple sports, and athlete skills and characteristics. The design incorporated both subjective and objective measures and was co-created with coaches to ensure staff confidence in its application. There was an improved robustness in the new application process which included observations and assessments on the athlete’s history, behavioural expectations with the tool providing a total athletic score comprised of technical, tactical, physical and psychosocial qualities. The tool was used successfully as a supportive instrument alongside coaches’ opinion to help minimise subjective biases and make the conversation around student-athlete and sport scholarship selection easier.In summary, the outcomes of the sports scholarship (re)design process have been perceived favourably by colleagues within the school. The iterative cycles of action research have ensured each key domain are continually evaluated and improved. The TDE remains a perceived strength by student-athletes, on the other hand student-athletes perceive DC competency possession as an area of continued development. Coaches share positivity to the new sports scholarship programme (e.g., coherent structure and process) and highlight areas of further development (e.g., marketing for attraction and recruitment). Finally, the new sports scholarship programme received a significant strength from the independent school inspectors which is an extremely rare occurrence. The thesis concludes with five key guiding principles that had supported the research and acknowledges its limitations. In the final chapter I share my personal and professional development from this professional doctorate journey.</p
Data-Driven Insights on Damp in English Housing: Surveying Practices, Remedial Measures, Stock Analysis, and Predictive Modelling
No full textDamp in residential buildings presents significant challenges to housing quality, occupant health, and energy efficiency. This thesis adopts a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative (content and thematic analysis) and quantitative (Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), machine learning, and statistical analysis) methods to provide insights that could enhance damp management in English housing. To achieve this, the study uses real-world data from housing association inspection reports, surveyor comments, photographic evidence, a damp specialist questionnaire survey, and the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) database.
The research first examines current damp management practices, revealing a reactive approach that relies heavily on visual inspections and inconsistent diagnostic methods. Analysis of survey responses from damp specialists reveals differing views on the frequency of use, accessibility, and effectiveness of both diagnostic methods and remedial measures for damp. Findings also expose a gap between theoretical best practices and real-world damp management.
AHP is used to investigate decision-making in damp diagnostics and remedial measures by providing a structured framework that reduces subjective bias. It integrates multiple criteria, such as cost, effectiveness, feasibility, and expertise availability, to support more informed and systematic decision-making. Results show some advanced diagnostic tools and remedial measures were deprioritised due to cost, feasibility constraints, or lack of specialist expertise.
Machine learning clustering is applied to 1,655 damp homes, identifying three distinct damp home profiles based on building characteristics and energy efficiency. A defect analysis highlights condensation as the most prevalent issue, primarily affecting bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens.
Finally, a predictive machine learning model is developed to predict damp risk in over 35,000 homes. Random Forest performed best, with SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis identifying heating cost, energy consumption, wall efficiency, and construction age as key predictors. A Shiny app prototype demonstrates the feasibility of single-property damp risk assessment, though generalisability remains a challenge.</p
A Critical Evaluation of the Effects of Current Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices on the UK Construction Industry
No full textThis study critically evaluates the effectiveness of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices in the UK construction industry, focusing on sustainable procurement, life cycle assessment (LCA), and stakeholder engagement. A quantitative research design was employed, using structured surveys distributed to experienced professionals across various organisational roles. Statistical analyses, including multiple regression and Chi-square tests, were conducted to assess the impact of SSCM strategies on firm performance and sustainability outcomes. The findings reveal that SSCM practices significantly enhance environmental, economic, and social performance, though their adoption varies by organisational role and financial scale. Sustainable procurement and LCA were found to improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact, while stakeholder collaboration emerged as a key enabler of sustainability. However, barriers such as high implementation costs, knowledge gaps, and supply chain complexity persist, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. The study underscores the need for targeted strategies—such as financial incentives, training, and improved coordination — to support effective SSCM adoption across diverse project contexts in the construction sector..</p
Sustainable Validation of Water Consumption using Drones in Bahrain
No full textWater in the Kingdom of Bahrain is a constrained resource, with a majority supplied though energy-intensive desalination. The Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in Bahrain manages the conservation and supply, using radio-capable supply meters to monitor and bill consumption in real-time. However, radio shadows in the local geography (especially in dense urban areas) means that some meters only return partial data, and meters return no data at all.Currently the EWA manages the data holes though the carbon intensive, manual reading of meters, requiring employees to drive to individual meters to return data. Nonetheless, whilst a regular schedule ensures reasonable accuracy for billing purposes, the capability of the sensor network is not being fully exploited. Comprehensive, accurate, monitoring would better enable real-time management of supply and demand, conserving energy and water resources within the Kingdom.This project demonstrates a prototype drone system, using off-the-shelf technology to cheaply monitor water supply meters in a large geographic area, at with lower carbon life-cycle costs. By reusing the existing capability developed by the Electricity and Water Authority, the project enables the rapid roll-out of a secondary data return system. Both allowing EWA to read ‘unserviceable’ meters automatically, and validating supply data through existing channels.The use of standardised radio technology is increasingly common for resource management, and radio shadows are an inherent limitation. Concluding, commercial drones provides a alternative to manual meter reading for EWA, and show a reduction in overall carbon costs. The modular nature of the platform developed also offers a starting point for other projects using common radio technologies for sensor networks.</p
Sustainable Asphalt Concrete Optimization using Natural Aggregates, Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA), and Polymer Binder Substitutes
No full textThis research investigates the optimization of sustainable asphalt concrete (SAC) by incorporating Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as substitutes for virgin aggregates and bitumen. Previous studies on sustainable asphalt concrete have often focused on specific case studies or limited aspects of material substitution. This research aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the performance and environmental benefits of these materials in SAC mixtures.To achieve this objective, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the indirect tensile strength, Marshall stability, and other relevant properties of asphalt concrete mixtures containing varying proportions of RAP, IBA, and PET. The optimal substitution levels for each material were determined through a systematic analysis of the experimental data.The findings of this research demonstrate that RAP can be effectively used as an aggregate replacement at a substitution level of 45% by mass. IBA, on the other hand, can be incorporated as an aggregate replacement at a substitution level of 10% by mass. The use of PET as a binder substitute proved to be beneficial, with optimal substitution levels varying depending on the aggregate type. For IBA-based mixtures, a 10% PET replacement was found to be effective, while a 2% PET replacement was suitable for RAP-based mixtures.The combined use of RAP, IBA, and PET in asphalt concrete mixtures offers significant potential for reducing the environmental impact of road construction. By substituting virgin materials with recycled components, carbon emissions can be substantially decreased. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, engineers, and industry professionals seeking to implement more sustainable practices in road construction.</p