Exploring physiological responses through electrodermal activity (EDA) for evaluating the impact of universal design features in a hotel environment

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of using electrodermal activity (EDA) to detect changes in physiological arousal linked to perceptions of accommodations, focusing on universal design (UD) features. In environments like hotels, designers must consider wellness, social integration, and cultural appropriateness to effectively implement UD. Challenges exist with implementing and evaluating UD to accommodate diverse user needs due to conflicting definitions and application issues. To meet the need for post-design evaluation discerning accommodations by features and user groups, EDA measures offer a way to capture individual reactions to external stimuli. Materials and Methods: In this study, 22 adults (14 young, 8 older) completed an independent hotel walkthrough while expressing their perceptions. EDA was measured using a wristband, and participants’ perceived stress and usability were assessed through questionnaires. Phasic EDA was extracted to represent discrete event-evoked changes in arousal. Results: Findings demonstrated the potential of EDA to identify physiological response variations based on age and location within the hotel. Older adults displayed significantly higher levels of arousal and more favorable usability ratings (4.61 out of 5) compared to young adults, with peak arousal in the corridor and public restroom. Younger adults showed the highest arousal in the bathroom, often with negative associations. The groups differed in their reactions to the bathroom and reception areas. Conclusions: Divergences between physiological responses and subjective outcomes highlighted the complexity of translating arousal measures into meaningful insights. EDA, combined with commentary, enhanced our understanding of user reactions to design elements to fill gaps left by subjective methods.