Background to the Study

1. Assessment of Saudi Families’ Level of Satisfaction Toward Living in Multifamily Housing Complex: The Dammam Housing Complex

2. Background to the Study • Despite the size of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there are concerns on the sustainability of the country’s current social and political context, especially with regard to population growth (Salam, 2013).

3. Background to the Study • Changes in culture and technology have provided individuals with more options for housing (Agus et al., 2002). • End goal of housing is to satisfy residents and take care of their physical and mental health (Ulusoy et al., 2012). • Modern housing systems should be evaluated with regard to resident satisfaction. • In Saudi Arabia, the increase in population has necessitated new forms of housing, such as multifamily housing, that need to be studied with regard to resident satisfaction (Salam, 2013).

4. Background to the Study

5. Theoretical Framework Resident Satisfaction

6. Research Questions • RQ1: What are the perceptions of Saudi Arabian residents living in multifamily housing facilities in Saudi Arabia? • RQ2: Based on the perceptions of residents, how can the multifamily housing experience in Saudi Arabia be improved? • RQ3: Based on the perceptions of residents, how do multifamily housing facilities benefit Saudi Arabian residents? • RQ4: How does the concept of multifamily housing facilities coexist with the tenets of Saudi Arabian culture?

7. Significance of the Study

8. Literature Review • Researchers have noted the difficulty of creating a singular definition for the concept of resident satisfaction. • Newer forms of housing created to meet the demands fail to contribute to the values and overall quality of life of Saudi Arabians. • There is a need to investigate newer forms of housing to evaluate whether the citizenry and culture of Saudi Arabians. • There is a need to for studies to investigate current methods employed by the Saudi Arabian government to alleviate housing demand problems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

9. Methodology

10. Methodology

11. Methodology

12. Limitations and Assumptions • Limitations • Saudi Arabian residents of multifamily housing complexes in urban areas who are married, with or without children • Residents in multifamily housing complexes in the urban areas of Saudi Arabia • Questionnaire used in this study has not been studied for use with different cultures • Use of convenience sampling strategies • Assumptions • Participant honesty • Participants are representative of the population under investigation • Appropriateness of the interview guide • Dammam housing complex is similar to multifamily housing complexes built in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar

13. Preliminary Results and Discussion

14. Implications for Research • There is a need to fill the gap regarding the perception of Saudi Arabian residents of multifamily housing facilities in Saudi Arabia. • Policymakers in Saudi Arabia may gain a better picture of what Saudi Arabians feel about multifamily housing facilities. • Housing developers may use the information from this study to drive decisions on housing developments. • Scholars in housing studies gain information on Saudi Arabian perceptions to multifamily housing. • Saudi Arabian citizens who live in a multifamily housing situation benefit from providing more information to policymakers, housing developers, and scholars in housing studies.

15. Ethical Assurances

16. Data Analysis Results

17. Data Analysis Results- Quantitative

18. Data Analysis Results - Qualitative

19. Data Analysis Results - Qualitative

20. Data Triangulation • Similarities • Perceptions of normal satisfaction from quantitative data corroborated with the first major theme of the study that the experience of residing in a multifamily housing complex. • Satisfaction with the proximity of multifamily housing facilities to important institutions and areas. • Differences • While perceptions based on quantitative data showed normal-satisfied, the data collected qualitatively revealed mostly negative perceptions on residing in a multifamily housing complex. • Stemmed from dissatisfactions previously experienced and reported to higher authorities or administration that have not been addressed.

21. Discussion of Study Findings • Quantitative findings • Most of the participants had low to average income, and have assessed their experience with the multi-family housing experience as “normal to satisfied”. • Physical state or community of the housing may not be important in relation to overall satisfaction derived from housing. • Norms and values of individuals have an impact on how satisfied or dissatisfied they will be with housing.

22. Discussion of Study Findings • Qualitative findings • Financial concerns and current socioeconomic status of the residents may have influenced their perceptions of resident satisfaction. • Variances in the perceptions on multifamily housing can be affected by the emotional aspect of resident satisfaction, and the subjective nature of resident satisfaction. • Perceptions may have been affected by the desire to have a better housing system. • Resident satisfaction can also have an influence on residents’ behaviour. • Aspects inherent to the Saudi Arabian culture pose limitations that prevent citizens from taking advantage of available methods of house construction and purchase.

23. Conclusions of the Study • “Normal” level of satisfaction • Resident satisfaction increases when the participants are satisfied with the physical environment of their houses. • Disparity between results of quantitative and qualitative analysis may be attributed to the emotional and conative aspects of resident satisfaction in multifamily housing in Saudi Arabia. • Residents may have different needs and expectations from their living conditions because of the relatively close proximity to neighbors and other families. • Three least important factors considered by low-income Saudi Arabian house buyers are exterior space, street location, and proximity to relatives.

24. Implications of the Study • Future researchers must consider the subjective aspects of resident satisfaction. • Findings of this study are of importance to Saudi Arabian policymakers and housing developers to provide better housing services. • Findings of this study are of importance to Saudi Arabian residents who live in multifamily housing complexes, or would like to live in multifamily housing complexes.

25. Recommendations • Consider other methods of quantitative analysis based on results of qualitative analysis • Use correlation analysis to identify variables associated with resident satisfaction • Expand geographical area of the study • Consider other quantitative tools to measure resident satisfaction • Utilize other sampling methods