Research & Outputs

This thesis is a case study which sought to find out if the designs of the UP Diliman dormitory bedrooms, specifically those in the Yakal Residence Hall, are gender-sensitive in terms of lay-out, choice of color scheme and furniture design. Using the multi-method approach of research, the following were the data gathering techniques used to address the objectives of this study: site inspection, interview and survey. The instruments employed were floor plans, pictures, observation guide, interview guide and questionnaire. By means of purposive sampling, 30 dormers were asked to answer the questionnaire. Sixteen of them were males and 14 were females. The data gathered were tabulated, summarized and analyzed vis-a-vis the theories of Color, Proxemics, Anthropometrics and Universal Design. Results showed that the sizes of the selected Yakal dormitory bedrooms followed the given standards based on Universal Design. However, the existing furniture lay-outs in the said bedrooms were unsuitable and some areas were not easily accessible due to the closet that also served as a divider. For the color scheme of their bedrooms, both males (9 out of 16) and females (8 out of 14) indicated their disapproval for the color of the walls. Both genders expressed their preference for the shade of blue. The dormitory bedrooms of both male and female dormers were found to be complete with the basic furniture pieces necessary in a dormitory bedroom. On the contrary, majority pointed out the poor construction and design of the furniture in their bedrooms. Furthermore, the male dormers (5 out of 16) gave a lower rating of 7 to the over-all design of the bedrooms compared to that of female dormers' rating of 8 (7 out of 14). In view of the findings, the study revealed that there were efforts made by the University to be gender-sensitive in designing the said bedrooms but they were not fully realized. The lay-out and the existing furniture pieces in both males' and females' bedrooms did not address their needs in terms of their gender. Specifically, the males' characteristic of being more territorial and the females' penchant for aesthetics and flexibility were not satisfied. On the other hand, the results indicated that colors traditionally associated with gender are not anymore strictly followed as demonstrated by the female dormers' preference for blue (a masculine color) as the color for their bedroom. The study recommends that the lay-out, the color scheme and furniture design for the dormitory bedrooms be changed according to the standards of Universal Design, giving special considerations to the needs and requirements of the dormers based on their gender. It is also recommended that a survey regarding the dormers' preferences in terms of color scheme, the type of furniture and even the number of dormers per room, be carried out by the University not only in Yakal but also among other co-ed dormitories inside the UP Diliman campus. Lastly, a separate study for each aspect of the dormitory bedrooms: lay-out, color scheme and furniture, should be conducted in order to yield better results.

Educators play a role in molding their pupils' values and one way of attaining this is by setting an example. The same can be said for reading habits and attitudes. This study was done with the objective of determining the reading habits, as well as the library usage, of the students from the College of Education University of the Philippines Diliman. The study used the survey method to gather data. Questionnaires were distributed to education students during the summer term of academic year (AY) 2009-2010. A total of eighty (80) respondents participated in the survey. Among the important findings were that most of the respondents (87.50%) expressed their interest in the reading activity and that they read for pleasure (91.25%). However, slightly more time was still spent on academic reading with "4-6 hours" (31.25%) compared to pleasure reading with "2-4 hours" (28.95%) in a given week, reflecting the fact that academic reading takes precedence over other types of reading. It was also found that novels were the most commonly read materials by the respondents (78.75%) followed by online resources like blogs and websites (75.00%). In terms of library use, respondents were likely to visit it "a few times a week" and spend "30 minutes - 1 hour" for each visit. Textbooks, reference books and Reading for Pleasure books were the most frequently used library materials while the book lending and returning, photocopying and Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) were the most used library services by the respondents. Moreover, the study also aimed to determine whether a significant relationship exists between the respondents" library use and their reading habits. The Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the variables used, which were the amount of time spent on academic and pleasure reading, and the frequency and duration of library use. It was revealed that the frequency and duration of library use had a significant relationship with academic reading but not for pleasure reading.

This study presents the actual energy audit of Kalayaan Residence Hall as a preliminary to establishing a framework for determining energy intensity of all residence halls in the University of the Philippines Diliman. The purpose of the study is to determine the factors that influence the current level of electricity usage and techniques to reduce energy consumption. From the as built plan of the residence hall, electricity consumption record from Meralco, and the survey answered by the student residents, electricity usage was determined to be largely due to the lighting and ventilation requirements of the residents, which accounts to 41% and 22% of the total electricity consumption respectively. An estimated savings of 57% can be realized simply by replacing existing light bulbs with LED bulbs. Energy policy and initiatives for Kalayaan Residence Hall are then formulated to ensure proper energy management in the next 5 years. It is recommended that improved profiling of energy use be done by using real-time electricity consumption.