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The purpose of the current research is to examine the student’s residential satisfaction (SRS) of dormitories in Tehran and Shiraz. Providing homes for non-native students is considered as one of the key issues in university development.

A combination of qualitative and quantitative measurements (mixed methods) was used to compare some of the design features between middle-rise and high-rise student housing. Questionnaire forms were distributed between male students of “Shahid Beheshti University” and “Shiraz University” dormitories. Cluster sampling is done among residential blocks in each university. Students assessed perceived attributes of dormitories by indicating their satisfaction from different categories. The obtained data were analysed by SPSS software and the Mann-Whitney test.

Findings show that although in comparing two samples with only some of the criteria, Shahid Beheshti University dormitory was ranked higher, generally Shiraz University dormitory was more successful in meeting resident’s satisfaction. Among the physical features, the pleasant views and landscape are important components which are related to aesthetic preferences.

More research examining student/environment interactions is needed to pay close attention to cultural aspects. The consideration of culturally diverse individuals in the assessment may also provide valuable insight into the students’ residential satisfaction.

In sum, the design implications resulting from the data analysis act as a step toward an evidence-based design approach. Housing designers can integrate the research findings with design solutions. They take active part in the design process by developing new methodologies to highlight their role in creating high-quality student housing.

The relationship between students and their residential environment has been a mainstream topic in environmental psychology. Some previous studies have focused on socio-demographic characteristics, whereas others have dealt with the physical characteristics of the student housing that affect SRS.

This paper aims to give a brief review on behavioral economics and behavioral finance and discusses some of the previous research on agents' utility functions, applicable risk measures, diversification strategies and portfolio optimization.

The authors also cover related disciplines such as trading rules, contagion and various econometric aspects.

While scholars could first develop theoretical models in behavioral economics and behavioral finance, they subsequently may develop corresponding statistical and econometric models, this finally includes simulation studies to examine whether the estimators or statistics have good power and size. This all helps us to better understand financial and economic decision-making from a descriptive standpoint.

The research paper is original.

This study aims to examine the effect of using word-of-mouth and online housing website strategies for student housing selection and building services satisfaction during COVID-19.

The study adopted mixed-methods research approach. An online survey of 975 public and private university students experience on room selection prior to school re-opening in Ghana was used. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and multiple regression model (MRM) were used to estimate the satisfaction of using online websites and word-of-mouth strategies (renting housing based on personal recommendation) on student room pricing and building services availability. Telephone interviews were further used to support the results of EFA and MRM.

The study reveals that most students were satisfied with the word-of-mouth strategy than online review marketing strategy for room selection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, online student housing review marketing strategy provided higher rent which did not reflect the services available. Furthermore, students were more interested in the nature of rooms, lavatories and kitchen in their choice of room than availability of internet, study area, television (TV) room and gym center.

The study suggest that student housing managers require to market their facilities as-it-is than to use one room as an advertising justification for all rooms which does not usually provide a true reflection of the existing situation of room. Again, housing which rely on online marketing strategies need to provide compensation for students who feel they have been misled by their advertisement.

The provision of compensation to students and availability of COVID-19 protection measures determine student room selection. Asides, the introduction of online marketing strategies in student housing in sub-Saharan student housing market is new, and, consequently, this study on it is a novelty.