Connoted Hazard of Voiced Warning Signal Words: An Examination of Auditory Components

Abstract

Signal words, such as DANGER and WARNING have been used in print (visual) warnings with the intention of evoking different levels of perceived hazard. However, there is limited research on whether auditory presentation of these words connote different levels of perceived hazard. In the present study, five voiced signal words were used to produce sound clips each composed of the words spoken three times and were manipulated according to the following factors: speaker gender, word unit duration (fast, slow), inter-word interval, (short, long), with the sound level held constant. Results indicate that the sound clips with short word unit duration were given higher carefulness ratings than long word unit duration (ps < .01). The results showed a similar pattern of ratings for the signal words as shown in research using print presentations. Implications for the design of voiced warnings are described.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

ANSI (1998). Accredited Standard on Safety Signs and Colors, Z535.5. Arlington, VA: National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

Barzegar

R. S.

Wogalter

M. S.

(1998). Intended carefulness for voiced warning signal words. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 42^nd Annual Meeting, 1068–1072.

Barzegar

R. S.

Wogalter

M.S.

(1998). Effect of auditorily-presented warning signal words on intended carefulness. Contemporary Ergonomics 1998 (pp. 311–315). London, UK: Ergonomics Society.

Chapanis

(1994). Hazards associated with three signal words and four colours on warning signs. Ergonomics, 37, 265–275.

Edworthy

Clift-Matthews

Crowther

(1998). Listeners' understanding of warning signal words. Contemporary Ergonomics 1998 (pp. 316–320). London, UK: Ergonomics Society.

Edworthy

Adams

(1996). Speech warnings. In Edworthy, J. and Adams, A. (1996). Warning Design: A Research Prospective, (pp. 179–198). London: Taylor and Francis.

Haas

E. C.

Casali

J. G.

(1995). Perceived urgency of and response time to multi-tone and frequency-modulated warning signals in broadband noise. Ergonomics, 38, 2313–2326.

Wogalter

M. S.

Kalsher

M. J.

Frederick

L. J.

Magurno

A. B.

Brewster

B. M.

(1998). Hazard level perceptions of warning components and configurations. International Journal of Cognitive Ergonomics, 2, 123–143.

Wogalter

M.S.

Silver

N.C.

(1990). Arousal strength of signal words. Forensic Reports, 3, 407–420.

10.

Wogalter

M.S.

Silver

N.C.

(1995). Warning signal words: connoted strength and understandability by children, elders, and non-native English speakers. Ergonomics, 38, 2188–2206.