Noise and Annoyance: A New Methodology

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of noise intensity on annoyance. The procedure involved the use of a visual signal to designate the impending occurrence of noise (a 1000-Hz pure tone). If the response was performed within 250 ms, noise was avoided; if the response was performed after 250 ms, the noise occurred but terminated with the response. In the first experiment, the findings indicated that the no-noise condition and 50-dBA values were significantly different from the 90-dBA value for both number of avoidance responses and response latencies. These results imply that avoidance responses and their associated latencies are indicators of annoyance. Experiment 2 investigated range effects on the number of avoidance responses and their latencies. An analysis of the 70-dBA condition for three groups resulted in significant differences between a group exposed to 50, 60, 70 dBA and one exposed to 70, 80, and 90 dBA. These results suggest that both the number of avoidance responses and the associated latencies are not only a function of the absolute intensity value, but are also a function of the range of intensities used. The advantages and disadvantages of the avoidance procedure are discussed.