Preference for noise and effectiveness of studying

The hypothesis that studying was equally effective in an environment with a preferred versus a nonpreferred amount of noise was tested. University students' preference for noise (N = 112) was measured with ratings on Weinstein's Noise Sensitivity Scale and responses to seven questions about study habits. A month later, 20 students who reported a preference for noise and 20 students with a preference for quiet studied in a room in which there was noise (recorded cafeteria noise, 75 dB) and in quiet (50-55 dB) on two separate days. Within each preference for noise condition, the order of exposure to noise and to quiet was counterbalanced. An analysis of variance of accuracy scores on tests of reading comprehension indicated no significant difference between conditions. The interaction effect between preference for noise and conditions of noise was also not significant.