All-Inclusiveness and End-User Satisfaction in Student Housing Nexus: Cognitive Dissonance Perspective

Abstract

Drawing on the social support role's research gap of the cognitive dissonance theory, this study assessed the satisfaction of all-inclusiveness among Student with Disability living in offcampus student housing in Ghana.Methodology: SWD satisfaction data were collected through survey, face-face interview, and participant observation among off-campus student housing in six public and private universities in Ghana. Using the universal building design requirements (UDRs), a confirmatory factor analysis and multivariate regression were used to determine UDRs satisfaction among SWD. Findings:The results showed that there exist 11 inbuilt and 9 externals UDRs among off-campus student housing in Ghana. The satisfaction level revealed that out of 11 inbuilt UDRs, SWD are satisfied with only 5. Aside, SWDs were satisfied with 5 out of 9 external UDRs. Among them, only 50.5% off campus student housing has slip-floor resistance in the buildings which forms the highest availability among the inbuilt UDRs. Again, 33% of student housing has a clear signage which was the highest among the external UDRs. These provided some psychological effects on SWD across the study locations.Practical implications: Results suggested that effective review of structural design and permitting process may influence all-inclusiveness and compliance among student housing investors in Ghana.Originality: This study uniquely adds to all-inclusiveness among off-campus student housing studies than earlier studies which focusses mostly on on-campus educational facilities. The assessment of UDRs satisfaction among SWD contributes to the social support discourse of cognitive dissonance theory in the housing subsector. Again, this study deviates from health and legal studies associated to disabilities in Ghana.