TY - JOUR
T1 - Design and validation of an aircraft seat comfort scale using item response theory
AU - da Silva Menegon, Lizandra
AU - Ligia Vincenzi, Silvana
AU - de Andrade, Dalton Francisco
AU - Barbetta, Pedro Alberto
AU - Merino, Eugenio Andres Diaz
AU - Vink, Peter
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - This article aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of a scale that measures aircraft seat comfort. Factor analysis was used to study data variances. Psychometric quality was checked by using Item Response Theory. The sample consisted of 1500 passengers who completed a questionnaire at a Brazilian airport. Full information factor analysis showed the presence of one dominant factor explaining 34% of data variance. The scale generated covered all levels of comfort data, from ‘no comfort’ to ‘maximum comfort’. The results show that the passengers consider there is comfort, but this is very minimal when these passengers have to perform their desired activities. It tends to increase when aspects of the aircraft seating are improved and positive emotions are elicited. Comfort peaks when pleasure is experienced and passenger expectations are exceeded (maximum comfort). This outcome seems consistent with the literature. Further research is advised to compare the outcome of this questionnaire with other research methods, and to check if the questionnaire is sensitive enough and whether its conclusions are useful in practice.
AB - This article aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of a scale that measures aircraft seat comfort. Factor analysis was used to study data variances. Psychometric quality was checked by using Item Response Theory. The sample consisted of 1500 passengers who completed a questionnaire at a Brazilian airport. Full information factor analysis showed the presence of one dominant factor explaining 34% of data variance. The scale generated covered all levels of comfort data, from ‘no comfort’ to ‘maximum comfort’. The results show that the passengers consider there is comfort, but this is very minimal when these passengers have to perform their desired activities. It tends to increase when aspects of the aircraft seating are improved and positive emotions are elicited. Comfort peaks when pleasure is experienced and passenger expectations are exceeded (maximum comfort). This outcome seems consistent with the literature. Further research is advised to compare the outcome of this questionnaire with other research methods, and to check if the questionnaire is sensitive enough and whether its conclusions are useful in practice.
KW - Aircraft seat
KW - Comfort
KW - Item response theory
KW - Scale
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85015407752&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apergo.2017.03.005
DO - 10.1016/j.apergo.2017.03.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85015407752
SN - 0003-6870
VL - 62
SP - 216
EP - 226
JO - Applied Ergonomics: human factors in technology and society
JF - Applied Ergonomics: human factors in technology and society
ER -