EVALUATION REPORT ON THE THESIS OF SUZIYANTY HJ MATORI
ENVIRONMENTAL COLOUR FOR PAEDIATRIC PATIENT IN WARD DESIGN (CASE STUDY: PERAK STATE)
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
25 June 2013
Overview
The topic of this thesis is an interesting subject related to healthcare and wellbeing. It is a popular topic
of research in healthcare management, environmental psychology and paediatric nursing. Thus,
Suziyanty has chosen an appropriate topic to conduct this experimental research. Inasmuch, the subject
of this study is linked to the field of architecture particularly on the design of environment for
hospitalized children.
However, the content of the thesis is difficult to comprehend because it was not cogently written. It
means that the flow of its story on colour preference by children, healthy and sick, as well as by
architect is weak. Explanation of results and findings is not tally well with literature review, and her
conclusion is full of conjectures. Some of the findings are unfounded. In other words, the significance of
the main finding is weak.
It seems that Suziyanty’s thesis relied much on a thesis by Park (2007). However, the outcome is not an
extension of Park’s thesis but rather a comparison which lead to little contribution to new knowledge.
1. Research aim/purpose and objectives
The aim or purpose of the thesis was not clear because the statement in page 10 was different from
page 158. Relying on the purpose on page 158 that “The purpose of the research was to investigate and
compare between Park (2007) in the United States and the current study in Malaysia” the aim not tally
with the research problem which related on how environment affect health and wellbeing in hospital
environment. In thesis, comparison is not an aim but rather an objective. Moreover, investigation on
comparing preferences of colours in paediatric wards would not lead to significant contribution. In
addition, the subject of her hypotheses is similar to her research objectives suggesting confusion. It
seems that the objectives are not related to the research problem on effect of colour to patients’
comfort or wellbeing. For example, RO1 was to investigate paediatric patients’ preferences for wards
which lack of purpose. In the healthcare setting, the study of physical properties is linking to wellbeing,
restoration and comfort. Therefore, the aim, objectives and hypotheses are confusing. In short, this
section must be rewritten.
2. Research problem and gap
Explanation on the role of colour on patients’ comfort, performance and satisfaction was well addressed
in page 7 Chapter 1. The research gap was clear that there is little study on colour preference on
paediatric healthcare environment in Malaysia. The author addressed the confounding variables of
colours: brightness, saturation, light sources and background colour. Therefore, the problem and gap of
the study were clear. But, from my research on restorative environment in hospital setting, I found that
colour preference for healthcare setting in not a new research in the field of paediatric nursing and
healthcare management.
In Chapter 1, the framework of study is rather shallow; a revision is required.
3. Scope of Study
The author failed to provide a specific section on her scope of research. From Chapters 1 to 5, I found
that the scope of the study was on colour preferences by children and professional which not suffice to
the role of hospital as a healthcare environment. In page 11, the author mentioned that colour could
contribute to physical quality of the ward space. But, for what purpose is? Wellbeing and restoration are
among the role that fit to this investigation.
4. Review of Literature
Much of the literature covers the influence of colour on human perception. Little explanation was given
how colour affects children preference especially on hospitalized children. There is no specific research
underpinning suggesting the relationship of colour and sick children. On the other hand, the thesis
explained on the physiological and psychological benefits gain from colour. However, these important
factors are not the concerns and variables of the study. Inasmuch, the thesis emphasizes on the healing
process of patients in hospital due to its facility design. Therefore, the author seems to understand the
roles of ward design and its colour toward the healing process of patient.
However, the thesis failed to explain the present environmental condition in children’s ward that affects
paediatric patients in Malaysia hospitals.
5. Research Methodology and Data Analysis
In general, the simulation design technique is appropriate to elicit the data from the three types of
respondents. Her research followed the thesis of Park (2007). But confusion arises on the research
objective stated on page 73. It means that the 3ds Max drawings on colour hue of a ward are fit to
measure the data on colour preference. However, what variables relating to preference of colour were
not clearing explained. Furthermore, there is no explanation in detail how she elicited the data from the
five architects, either as individual or in a group. It seems that she collected the data as individual. I think
this might be a flaw in the method which should be clarified in the viva-voce.
In data analysis, the inferential statistic (ANOVA) on data gathered from healthy and unhealthy was valid
and reliable. It could be better to analyse further the correlation between these groups. But the analysis
was not valid on the data gathered from the professional because the number of respondent was only 5.
This is non-parametric data. I recommend her to do content analysis on this section.
6. Interpretation
Interpretation of result was insufficient. Overall, the prime finding was that blue is the most preferred
among the three groups. There is lacked of critical argument on why her study similar to the results of
Park (2007). The author should pose why this similarity happen on the colour for the children’s ward.
Why health status of children did not influence the preference of colour? Why adults (professional)
having similar perception with children? Many studies in cognitive psychology showed difference of
perception between adults and children.
7. Conclusion
The strength of this study is not on the prime finding that children prefer blue for the walls of hospital
ward but on the use of 3ds max simulation to elicit the perception of the respondents. Her conclusion is
thin. Several statements in the conclusion are not founded, the examples include: (1) ... related it to how
relaxing the designs made them feel, (2) the application of colour and design to the patients’
accommodation should take account of the emotional and psychological needs (page 170). These were
not tested in her experiment. Therefore, they are conjectures and should not be in the conclusion. I
strongly suggest that this should be revised and resubmitted.
8. Endorsement of Candidature
The thesis is ACCEPTED subject to amendments and corrections to the thesis as stated in Items 1, 2, 3, 5
6 and 7. The duration for correction shall be agreed in the viva-voce.
External Examiner
Ismail Said (PhD)
Associate Professor
Dept of Landscape Architecture
Faculty of Built Environment UTM
Sekudai
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