Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MSc)

Department

Psychology

Program Name/Specialization

Behavioural Neuroscience

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Dr. Noam Miller

Advisor Role

Co-Advisor, Associate Professor, Psychology, Behavioural Neuroscience

Second Advisor

Dr. Manuel Riemer

Advisor Role

Co-Advisor, Professor, Psychology, Community

Abstract

People interact with space in ways that are important to consider when designing an office. Not considering this relationship has led to the dissatisfaction of employees post-occupancy. In this thesis, I present an agent-based model that incorporates several characteristics of agents, such as work ethic and sociability, and explores their behaviours and social interactions in the workplace. The model is first tested on a commercial workspace, varying agent parameters to see how they change the behaviour of the model. I find that agents with extreme personalities are happiest, and show a bimodality in the distribution of time spent in various states. Next, a series of random floor plans were created, using the Watts-Strogatz network method, while varying the integration of the space. Simulations were run on each network to explore the effects of the space itself on behaviour. I find that higher integration increases time spent in each state except walking, and also increases happiness and most social network measures. This model will provide a framework for future work and may help better design offices based on workers’ needs and comfort.

Convocation Year

2022

Convocation Season

Spring

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