A Novel Analysis on the Perception of Physical Environmental Quality: An In-Depth Study Comparing the Neutrosophic Likert Scale with Score Function and the Classic Likert Scale - Statistical Analysis of Data from a Restaurant Survey

Abstract

There are studies examining the quality of the physical environment in the restaurant 
industry. However, these studies have only been conducted using Likert scale. Since the 
neutrosophic scale has not been used in the restaurant industry before, it is considered to be an 
important gap. For this reason, it is aimed to investigate the perceptions of physical environmental 
quality in restaurants by using Likert and neutrosophic scales for the first time. By applying 
Exploratory Factor Analysis, evidence is presented that a single factor adequately incorporates 
both scales, thus optimising the assessment procedure. Their consistency and reliability in 
assessing environmental perceptions is confirmed by the robust positive correlation between the 
two methods. Further investigations with one-way and two-way ANOVA reveal notable 
demographic differences, in particular the increased sensitivity of individuals aged 45 years and 
older towards the quality of the physical environment in restaurants. In contrast, gender has no 
effect on how environmental quality is perceived, suggesting that improvements in this area may 
resonate universally with consumers of all genders. The results of this study provide practical 
recommendations for restaurant managers seeking to improve business operations and customer 
satisfaction by emphasising environmental hygiene, especially for older customers. This research 
not only contributes to the body of knowledge regarding methodological approaches to 
environmental perception, but also sheds light on specific demographic preferences that can shed 
light on focused improvements in the restaurant industry. 

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14253986