Examining motivational factors in selecting spray polyurethane foam insulation for residential construction.

摘要

The purpose of the study was to examine the level of influence of (a) intrinsic and extrinsic motivation on consumer selection of spray polyurethane (SPF) insulation and (b) determine whether there are differences in type of motivation (intrinsic vs. extrinsic) in consumers who (a) selected closed-cell foam, (b) selected open-cell foam, or (c) did not participate in the selection. Self determination theory (SDT) was the theoretical foundation of the study and was utilized to determine the level of intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation in choosing SPF insulation. The problem addressed was the lack of knowledge regarding consumer motivation in selecting SPF insulation. Industry research has documented the performance characteristics of SPF insulation. Industry leaders needed to determine what factors influenced consumers in the selection process. Insufficient data existed concerning the factors that motivated homeowners to incorporate insulation products into the construction of their homes. The study included examination of two families of SPF insulation (i.e., open-cell and closed-cell SPF). Previous researchers have not compared motivation between consumers of open-cell and closed-cell foam SPF insulation and those consumers who did not know the type of SPF insulation used in their homes. Demographic characteristics examined included level of education, household income, and number of previous homes owned that may influence motivation level. A nonexperimental, quantitative, survey design was utilized to test the hypotheses. Consumers who have purchased SPF insulation in the intermountain western region of the United States for the construction of their home were surveyed. Utah's climate zones 5 and 6 and the intermountain west were targeted. This allowed responses from homeowners with similar insulation needs. The results of the study indicated no major differences in intrinsic and extrinsic motivation between consumers who selected open-cell or closed-cell insulation. Consumers who were unsure of the insulation type were significantly lower in both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. No significant differences were found between the end-users of open- and closed-cell SPF. Additional research examining which insulation attributes played the greatest role in the selection process would further define which aspects had the greatest impact on the decision process.