Subjectivity of Lighting Perception and Comfort: The Role of Preferences and Expectations

Lighting in passenger rail cars is designed according to defined standards to implement a safe and healthy as well as comfortable lighting situation for the passengers. However, not every passenger’s demands are met by average lighting conditions; individual preferences are well-known to influence participants’ comfort sensations. To further explain the role of individual preferences and expectations regarded as stable dispositions, sensations of 40 participants were analyzed in a mock-up of a passenger rail car of the Next Generation Train (NGT) using an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) luminaire. Two lighting scenarios (100 lx and 150 lx) were used as levels of the independent variable. Results confirm that individual preferences and expectations have an influence on the perception and evaluation of the lighting situation. Moreover, positive expectations were found to have a somewhat higher impact for subjective reactions than illuminance had and should thus be considered in future lighting research and design.