Educational environments designed with restorative and controllable features enhance adaptive skills in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The physical and sensory attributes of educational settings can significantly impact the development and expression of adaptive skills in students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Social Sciences & Humanities Open · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Environmental factors are positively related to students' adaptive skills when disability levels are controlled.
- 02Restorative environmental features are associated with conceptual and practical adaptive skills.
- 03Controllable environmental characteristics are relevant to social adaptive skills.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers should prioritize creating educational environments that are not only functional but also psychologically supportive, by integrating restorative elements and opportunities for user control.
How to apply
When designing or renovating educational facilities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, explicitly consider the inclusion of natural light, views of nature, quiet retreat areas, and flexible furniture arrangements that allow for user customization.
Project actions
- 01When researching user needs, consider how the physical environment might be affecting their ability to perform tasks or interact.
- 02Think about how to incorporate elements that promote calm and reduce sensory overload in your designs.
- 03Explore ways to give users more agency or choice within the designed space.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Identifies specific, actionable environmental components.
- +Provides a quantitative basis for design decisions.
- +Focuses on a specific, often underserved, user group.
Limitations
The study's findings are based on a specific population and educational context; results may not directly apply to all user groups or environments. The subjective nature of environmental perception can also be a limitation.
Reliability & validity
The study's reliability could be enhanced by using multiple measures for adaptive skills and environmental perception. Validity is supported by the factor analysis of environmental items and the use of regression to establish relationships, but further validation with direct observation would strengthen it.
Think critically
To what extent can the positive effects of restorative and controllable environmental features be generalized to other user groups or non-educational settings?
Design Principles
"Environmental design should actively support cognitive and social development by providing restorative qualities and user agency."
This research highlights the critical role of environmental design in supporting the learning and functional independence of vulnerable user groups. By understanding how specific environmental elements influence behavior and skill acquisition, designers can create more inclusive and effective educational spaces.
What This Means for Your Design
Making schools feel calm and giving students some control over their space can help them learn better and interact more effectively.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify design choices related to environmental features that support user well-being and skill development.
- 2.Cite this study when discussing the importance of creating inclusive and supportive environments for users with specific needs.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2023). Associations between environmental factors and adaptive skills of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in educational settings. Social Sciences & Humanities Open. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100410 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/161f068f-4e86-47d6-b013-3392675fd350/educational-environments-designed-with-restorative-and-controllable-features-enhance-adaptive-skills-in-individuals-with-intellectual-and-developmental-disabilities
Paragraph starter
The physical environment plays a crucial role in supporting the adaptive skills of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Research indicates that educational settings incorporating restorative elements, such as natural light and views of nature, positively influence conceptual and practical skills, while controllable features, like customizable workspaces, enhance social skills (Yi & Ellis, 2023). Therefore, design interventions should prioritize the creation of psychologically supportive and empowering spaces.
Source
Social Sciences & Humanities Open
Associations between environmental factors and adaptive skills of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in educational settings
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about educational environments designed with restorative and controllable features enhance adaptive skills in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities?
- Designers should prioritize creating educational environments that are not only functional but also psychologically supportive, by integrating restorative elements and opportunities for user control. Evidence: Social Sciences & Humanities Open (2023).
- Why does "Educational environments designed with restorative and controllable features enhance adaptive skills in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities." matter for design?
- This research highlights the critical role of environmental design in supporting the learning and functional independence of vulnerable user groups. By understanding how specific environmental elements influence behavior and skill acquisition, designers can create more inclusive and effective educational spaces.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers should prioritize creating educational environments that are not only functional but also psychologically supportive, by integrating restorative elements and opportunities for user control.
- What were the main findings?
- Environmental factors are positively related to students' adaptive skills when disability levels are controlled.. Restorative environmental features are associated with conceptual and practical adaptive skills.. Controllable environmental characteristics are relevant to social adaptive skills.
- What research method was used?
- Quantitative survey-based research with 93 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Social Sciences & Humanities Open.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing or renovating educational facilities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, explicitly consider the inclusion of natural light, views of nature, quiet retreat areas, and flexible furniture arrangements that allow for user customization.
- What are the limitations?
- The study relies on self-reported data, and the specific disability levels of participants were controlled for but not deeply analyzed as a variable. The generalizability to all types of educational settings and all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities may vary.
- Is there evidence that educational environments affects design outcomes?
- The study found that the design of educational environments significantly influences the adaptive skills of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Specifically, environments that offer restorative qualities (e.g., natural elements, quiet spaces) support conceptual and practical skills, while environ Source: Social Sciences & Humanities Open (2023).
- Where does this adaptive skills research apply?
- Educational settings for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It sits within human factors research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
educational environments design research · evidence on educational environments · does educational environments improve design outcomes · adaptive skills studies for designers · educational environments and adaptive skills findings · human factors research evidence