Habitability is a general term which connotes a level of environmental acceptability.
For brief periods, almost any arrangement that does not interfere with the health of the individuals or the performance of their jobs would be acceptable. Over the long term, conditions must support not only individuals' physical, but also their psychological health. Historically, habitability research has focused on the impact of environmental factors. It was assumed, for instance, that the presence of a noise stimulus or the confinement of large numbers of individuals in a small space was sufficient to explain performance variations. According to this model, people are motivated towards certain goals which, if achieved, result in a sense of well being.