The Study of Children’s Preferences for the Design Elements of Learning Desks Based on AHP-QCA

Abstract

Children’s study tables are an integral part of a child’s learning life.  Consumers are often attracted to their styling when deciding on the use and purchase of a children’s study desk. This study focused on consumption preference for the styling of children’s study desks and delved into the factors that influence these preferences. An important aspect of this research is to understand how different shapes of children's desks influence consumer preferences through morphological analysis. The study breaks down these desks into six different parts based on morphological analysis: backplane, bookshelves, desktop, cabinet, drawer, and table legs. Through a hierarchical analysis (AHP) and pairwise comparisons, the study created a hierarchy of preferred morphological elements. The hierarchy ranked the importance of each element in influencing consumption preference, revealing the order of preference from backsplash to table legs. In addition, by integrating personal interviews and employing Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), this study provides insights into the most preferred components –  backplane and bookshelves. This integrated approach revealed a preference for desks with curved backsplashes and multi-tiered functional shelves, which was ultimately validated by successfully combining weighted rankings of specific component styles.