TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of building construction noise on residents
T2 - A quasi-experiment
AU - Ng, Cheuk
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this project was provided by St Thomas University, where the author was on the faculty and data were collected. The author acknowledges the assistance of Doreen Vatour and Renae Agrey in data collection.
PY - 2000/12
Y1 - 2000/12
N2 - Noise pollution is an environmental problem in cities. Although recent field research has focused on transportation noises, the effects of exposure to building construction noise have not been studied. In a quasi-experiment, residents of a three-wing residence hall for female students located near a construction site served as subjects in three comparison groups. Information about their personal characteristics and perceived effects of construction noise on studying and other behaviours were gathered in a questionnaire (n = 94) and an activity log (n = 14). In addition, sound level measurements and records of resident turnover and systematic observations of windows open or closed were analysed. As expected, the results of chi-square tests, one-way ANOVAs and MANOVAs show significant wing effects (p<0·05) on frequency heard, distractability, and several perceived behavioural effects, such as being awakened, difficulty with relaxation and studying-related activities, and interference with conversation and television-watching. These effects were significantly more severe for residents closest to the construction site than those further away. Residents coped with noise by speaking louder, keeping windows closed, and leaving the room.
AB - Noise pollution is an environmental problem in cities. Although recent field research has focused on transportation noises, the effects of exposure to building construction noise have not been studied. In a quasi-experiment, residents of a three-wing residence hall for female students located near a construction site served as subjects in three comparison groups. Information about their personal characteristics and perceived effects of construction noise on studying and other behaviours were gathered in a questionnaire (n = 94) and an activity log (n = 14). In addition, sound level measurements and records of resident turnover and systematic observations of windows open or closed were analysed. As expected, the results of chi-square tests, one-way ANOVAs and MANOVAs show significant wing effects (p<0·05) on frequency heard, distractability, and several perceived behavioural effects, such as being awakened, difficulty with relaxation and studying-related activities, and interference with conversation and television-watching. These effects were significantly more severe for residents closest to the construction site than those further away. Residents coped with noise by speaking louder, keeping windows closed, and leaving the room.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038189991&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1006/jevp.2000.0177
DO - 10.1006/jevp.2000.0177
M3 - Journal Article
AN - SCOPUS:0038189991
SN - 0272-4944
VL - 20
SP - 375
EP - 385
JO - Journal of Environmental Psychology
JF - Journal of Environmental Psychology
IS - 4
ER -