Developing an attachment to place through DIY

Abstract

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was conducted of semi-structured interviews, with the aim of investigating factors which affect attachment to, and identity within the home and whether completion of DIY projects has any effect on these. The participants were eight students from the University of Plymouth who signed up to the study as part of a course requirement, and two others who were known to the experimenter to have undertaken DIY within their respective homes. The findings show that the level of personalisation and sense of ownership a home owner feels within their property, are key factors to attachment and reflection of identity within the home. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.