Noise,Task Complexity and Rated Annoyance

Abstract

Two experiments investigating rated annoyance as a function of noise and task complexity were conducted. Task complexity was defined operationally as the number of stimulus alternatives. In the first experiment, two groups of subjects performed an information reduction task either to the onset of one of four stimuli or to the onset of one of eight stimuli while continually exposed to noise. Ratings of the noise on a bipolar scale were obtained after completing the task. An analysis showed a significant decrease in annoyance as the number of stimuli increased. In the second experiment, four groups of subjects performed the task at the two levels of complexity used in the first experiment. However, for each level of complexity, one group of subjects performed the task while exposed to noise, while another group performed the task in the absence of noise. Ratings of the task on the bipolar scale used in the first experiment were obtained. A main effect for the occurrence of noise was the only significant finding. The implication from this experiment suggests that the noise was considered to be part of the task, and was included in the rating. The implications of these results for the application of the traditional noise and annoyance findings are discussed.