Validity of questionnaire survey in evaluating residence's characteristics and dampness in contemporary human dwellings in Tianjin, China

Many researchers used questionnaires to evaluate associations between indoor environment and human health. However, research on validated occupant's reported information using home inspections is still lacking. This study aims to validate the data regarding building characteristics and dampness signs obtained from a questionnaire survey in Tianjin, China. Kappa values were used to test the evaluation agreement between occupants and inspectors. A perfect to moderate concordances were reported between the occupants' and the inspectors' reports for building characteristics of the child's room. The floor covering material was reported in almost perfect agreement (cement and stone: k = 0.860). There were substantial to moderate agreements for wall covering (wallpaper: k = 0.731; painting and latex paint: k = 0.408). Slight to moderate agreements were reported for dampness indicators in the child's bedroom, and consistency was higher in homes with sick children. The findings of this study suggest that questionnaire surveys can give valid and reliable data regarding technical parameters of the home, but not mostly for visible signs of dampness in the home environment. To increase the validity of future questionnaires for studying dampness problems, clear digital photos, moisture-sensitive devices, or more details information should be used.

Automated summary

Many researchers have used questionnaires to evaluate the relationship between indoor environment and human health, but there is still a lack of research on validating occupants' reported information through home inspections. This study aimed to validate data from a questionnaire survey regarding building characteristics and dampness signs in Tianjin, China. The findings suggest that questionnaire surveys can provide valid and reliable data for technical parameters of the home, but not mostly for visible signs of dampness in the home environment.