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).
Population growth
Pro-natal policies
Increased immigration
Transfer from rural to urban
Developments in public services and utilities

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
Increased population in Saudi Arabia has resulted in the development of different housing systems.
There is a need to examine how demands are satisfied by current housing systems in Saudi Arabia.
The purpose of this study is to explore resident satisfaction among Saudi residents in multifamily housing complexes in Saudi Arabia.

5. Theoretical Framework
Physical satisfaction
Economic satisfaction
Environmental satisfaction
Aesthetic satisfaction
Economic Satisfaction
Community satisfaction
Social satisfaction
Service satisfaction
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
Government
Information on residents’ problems in multifamily housing systems
Help develop and improve public services and utilities with regard to housing
Citizenry
Contribute to improved living conditions and well-being
Influence policies on housing systems

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 Method and Design Mixed methods design
Quantitative: overall satisfaction of Saudi Arabian residents with regard to the multifamily housing complex where they currently reside
Qualitative: experiences with residing in a multifamily housing complex
Population and Sample
Saudi Arabians living in multifamily housing systems
Residents of the Dammam housing complex
Married
At least 6 months residency
Saudi Arabian citizens
Convenience sampling + random sampling

10. Methodology Quantitative Instrument
Questionnaire adapted from a published study on residential housing satisfaction (Inah et al., 2014)
Behavioral, economic, functional, timing, physical, and environmental attributes
24 questions, 5-point Likert scale
Study Variables
Demographics (IV)
Socioeconomic status
Size of household
Number of children
Resident satisfaction (DV)
Qualitative Instrument
Interview schedule
Open-ended questions

11. Qualitative Instrument
Methodology
Data Collection
Survey questionnaire
Randomly selected participants for interview
20 participants for interview
Data Analysis
Frequency statistics and measures of central tendency
ANOVA
Modified van Kaam method of phenomenological analysis
Qualitative Instrument
Interview schedule
Open-ended questions

12. Limitations and Assumptions
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 DiscussionRQ
Method
Relevance of Data 1
Quantitative
Qualitative
Obtain an objective picture of how satisfied the participants are with their current housing situation and provide further context for numerical data 2
Perceptions on the most valuable characteristics of multifamily housing and what should be prioritized by policymakers and housing developers 3
Perceived benefits because of living in multifamily housing facilities 4
How Saudi Arabian residents perceive multifamily housing in general, in relation to their cultural and social beliefs

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 Belmont Principle Study Procedure
Respect for persons
Voluntary participation
Informed consent to participate
Lines of communication with researcher
Right to privacy and confidentiality
Beneficence
Informed consent form
Justice
No discrimination in recruitment

16. Data Analysis Results More females (422) than males (375)
Majority were aged (272) or (269)
Most were employed (307)
Monthly income 5,000-10,000 (229) or 10,000-15,000 (207)
1-2 adults (250), 3-4 adults (228)
With adult son and wife and children living with them (No – 339)
1-2 kids in household (273), 3-4 kids (271)
All family members in household satisfied (Yes – 413)
Demographics
N = 800

17. Data Analysis Results- Quantitative
Element
Highest frequency
Second highest
Physical
Normal satisfaction
Not satisfied
Environmental
Extremely not satisfied
Functional
Behavioral
Economic
Satisfied
Overall

18. Data Analysis Results - Qualitative
Thematic Label 1
Major themes
Average experience
Bad and unsuccessful experience
Invariant constituents
Positive experience but with some issues
Comfortable experience
Cannot say
Not a comfortable experience
Thematic Label 2
Bigger space for rooms and bathrooms
No improvements can be done anymore
No change, happy with experience
Improved maintenance of the building and houses
Reserved parking slots and spaces for residents
Better security around the multifamily housing location
Prioritize comfort and safety of elders
Building does not match way of life
Installation of children’s playground

19. Data Analysis Results - Qualitative
Thematic Label 3
Major themes
No advantages and benefits observed
Invariant constituents
Proximity to many important places
Facilities that offer recreational activities
Develop new relationships and friends
Services and parking space
Good quality building
Learning from different cultures as they interact with other people
Thematic Label 4
Concept does not maintain and threatens the tenets of Saudi Arabian culture
Supports and maintains the Saudi Arabian culture, no threats observed
Maintains the Saudi Arabian culture, but threatens it as a whole
Coexisting outcomes depend on the residents
Saudi Arabian culture is not maintained but not threatened as well

20. Data Triangulation Similarities Differences
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