Architectural Design and Educational Psychology: A CABE-Based Analysis of Secondary School Environments in Turkey

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Architectural Design and Educational Psychology: A CABE-Based Analysis of Secondary School Environments in Turkey
Language: English
Authors: Derya Bakbak
Source: Open Education Studies. 2026 8(1).
Availability: De Gruyter. Available from: Walter de Gruyter, Inc. 121 High Street, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 857-284-7073; Fax: 857-284-7358; e-mail: service@degruyter.com; Web site: http://www.degruyter.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Secondary Schools, Public Schools, Educational Environment, Resources, Safety, Organization, Design, Ventilation, Space Utilization
Geographic Terms: Turkey
DOI: 10.1515/edu-2025-0136
ISSN: 2544-7831
Abstract: This study presents the first systematic application of Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) standards to Turkish secondary school environments, analyzing 12 public schools in Gaziantep through expert site evaluations and administrator surveys. Schools were assessed on organization, resources, safety, and successful whole dimensions using a 3-point scale, with Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) employed to identify distinct design patterns. Results revealed significant variation across CABE dimensions. Organization performed highest, particularly in movement paths, while resources, especially ventilation, required improvement. Most schools demonstrated adequate safety standards. The successful whole dimension showed greatest variation, indicating different alignments between design and user objectives. LPA identified four distinct school profiles: Resource-Constrained Balanced Schools, Well-Structured Safe Schools, Safety-Prioritized Challenged School, and High-Achieving Resource-Efficient Schools. These profiles illuminate the complex interaction between architectural features and educational settings. Notably, High-Achieving Resource-Efficient Schools demonstrated exceptional performance despite resource limitations, challenging conventional assumptions about infrastructure-effectiveness relationships. The study contributes methodologically by integrating CABE criteria with LPA for comprehensive school environment assessment, and empirically by establishing baseline performance profiles for Turkish secondary schools. Findings suggest targeted improvements based on school-specific profiles could enhance learning environments more effectively than uniform interventions. This research provides foundational evidence for policy development and future investigations examining causal relationships between architectural design and educational outcomes.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505016
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:This study presents the first systematic application of Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) standards to Turkish secondary school environments, analyzing 12 public schools in Gaziantep through expert site evaluations and administrator surveys. Schools were assessed on organization, resources, safety, and successful whole dimensions using a 3-point scale, with Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) employed to identify distinct design patterns. Results revealed significant variation across CABE dimensions. Organization performed highest, particularly in movement paths, while resources, especially ventilation, required improvement. Most schools demonstrated adequate safety standards. The successful whole dimension showed greatest variation, indicating different alignments between design and user objectives. LPA identified four distinct school profiles: Resource-Constrained Balanced Schools, Well-Structured Safe Schools, Safety-Prioritized Challenged School, and High-Achieving Resource-Efficient Schools. These profiles illuminate the complex interaction between architectural features and educational settings. Notably, High-Achieving Resource-Efficient Schools demonstrated exceptional performance despite resource limitations, challenging conventional assumptions about infrastructure-effectiveness relationships. The study contributes methodologically by integrating CABE criteria with LPA for comprehensive school environment assessment, and empirically by establishing baseline performance profiles for Turkish secondary schools. Findings suggest targeted improvements based on school-specific profiles could enhance learning environments more effectively than uniform interventions. This research provides foundational evidence for policy development and future investigations examining causal relationships between architectural design and educational outcomes.
ISSN:2544-7831
DOI:10.1515/edu-2025-0136