Effects of Noise and Difficulty Level of Input Information in Auditory, Visual, and Audiovisual Information Processing

Abstract

To examine the effects of noise in auditory (A), visual (V), and audiovisual (AV) channels with varying difficulty levels of input information, 192 seventh grade Ss were tested under six conditions: A, V, and AV with and without noise. It was determined that noise had no detrimental effects upon information processing when input was not difficult, only A was significantly deteriorated by the presence of noise, whereas noise seemed to alert Ss in the AV treatment, AV was generally found to be better than A, which in turn was generally better than V, channel difference vanished when input was very difficult.

Rejoinder

“…Man's IP rate is, to no less important an extent, determined by environmental factors such as the existence of noise [12], and cognitive and motivational factors which are of course beyond the scope of this rejoinder.…”

Comparing Alternative Computer-Based Methods for Preventing Job Task Instructions

“…This ability to obtain quantitative measurements in the area of communication aroused interest in many fields of research and numerous applications followed (e.g., Attneave, 1959;Cherry, 1957;Hsia, 1968aHsia, , 1968c. Beyond its technical use, the model facilitated the discussion of different approaches to communication processes by providing a common base.…”

Individual Differences in Visual and Verbal Channel Capacity and Learning Outcome from Film and Text

“…Similar classic effects studies have been made of more comprehensive learning materials, such as educational films and television programs, where the theoretical analysis was based on theories and multi-channel "information summary" [Cue summation] (Hartman, 1961a, b;Travers, 1964Travers, , 1967Sever, 1967a, b, c;Hsia, 1968;Nugent, 1982). Visual media such as film and television, with stimulation in several channels simultaneously, often gave a better learning score than just text alone (Salomon, 1984).…”