A new look at the effects of noise: A rejoinder.

Abstract

Outlines a composite theory to account for the effects of noise upon performance. The 4 main determinants are (a) masking, both of acoustic cues and of inner speech; (b) distraction; (c) a beneficial increase in arousal when the noise begins, which gradually lessens and falls below normal to produce a decrement in performance when the noise stops; and (d) positive and negative transfer from noise to quiet. Positive transfer results from the more effective learning of the task in noise under the influence of the increase in arousal. Negative transfer results from the techniques of performance used in noise to counteract the masking or distraction, when they are not appropriate in quiet. (49 ref)

The Effects of Noise on Performance

“…Certain investigators, most notably Poulton (1976Poulton ( , 1977Poulton ( , 1978 disagree with Broadbent's theories. Loeb (1980) presents a succinct explanation of the controversy as follows:…”

“…Parker and his colleagues performed a series of experiments on the etfects of audible sound and infrasound on animals and humans (Parker Pt al., 1968, 1976, 1978, 1980. The investigators noted that other researchers had found shifts in visual field resulting from very high sound levels, namely 142 to 169 dB (Reschke Pt alI ., 1975, cited in Parker et al, 1976.…”

Detrimental effects of noise on anaesthetists

“…4'5 Noise levels similar to those found in operating rooms detrimentally affect short-term memory 5 and cause distractions during critical periods. 6 Difficult tasks that require high levels of perception processing or information processing are adversely affected by noise. 7 Operating room noise is intense enough to provoke peripheral vasoconstriction, dilatation of the pupil, and other subtle physiological effects, as well as interfere with speech communication and thereby provoke irritation.…”

Improving Navy recruit confidence expectancies and knowledge in a simulated chemical warfare environment.

“…For example, crowding (Hayduk, 1983;Schmidt & Keating, 1979), noise (Broadbent, 1978;Poulton, 1978), performance pressure (Baumeister, 1984), and workload (Goldstein & Dorfman, 1978) are stressors concerning working conditions. More physically threatening stressors include the anticipatory threat of shock (Wachtel, 1968), dangerous conditions, such as parachuting (Hammerton & Tickner, 1969), bomb disposal (Rachman, 1982;Cox, Hallam, O'Connor, & Rachman, 1983), combat stress (Williams, 1984), and emergency situations, such as nuclear power plant accidents or flight emergencies (Foushee, 1984;Krahenbuhl, Marett, & Reid, 1978).…”