Revealing Hierarchical Evaluation Structures in Office Chair Usage Using the Evaluation Grid Method

Abstract

Diversification of office workstyles has increased the need to understand how users evaluate office chairs in real work contexts. This study explored users’ hierarchical evaluation structures for five office chairs with different characteristics using the Evaluation Grid Method (EGM). Five office staffs who regularly use office chairs were recruited in this study (mean age = 38.6 years, SD = 8.93). Over five weeks, each participant used one provided chair from Monday to Wednesday and returned to their usual chair on Thursday and Friday; the weekly chair order was randomized. After the usage period, individual EGM interviews were conducted by at least two researchers, who recorded responses and constructed evaluation structure diagrams in real time, then confirmed the completed structure with each participant. Each participant ranked the five chairs and proceeded through stepwise comparisons with laddering to elicit links between concrete attributes and higher-level values. Participant-level maps were integrated by retaining items shared by more than one participant and merging semantically similar items. The integrated map highlighted pathways connecting lightweight/compact attributes with perceived ease of movement and social communication, and pathways linking fit- and posture-related perceptions with reduced fatigue and sustained work and concentration. These findings illustrate how users translate chair attributes into workplace-relevant values and can inform user-centered chair design requirements.

Keywords: Office Chair, Evaluation Grid Method (EGM), Laddering Interview, Evaluation Structure

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007444