Effects of Intermittent and Continuous Noise on Serial Search Performance

Abstract

To determine whether high intensity broadband noise has an adverse effect on human performance when special conditions related to type of task, length of testing, and intensity of noise exposure are met, 3 groups of 20 Ss each were tested on a serial search task. The first group was presented continuous broadband noise, the second received intermittent noise, and the third served as a control group. Performance was measured for 36 min. continuously on a practice day and 4 test days. Both noise groups produced approximately the same results. Both groups found significantly fewer numbers on the task than the control group on the last two days of testing. The effect was quite orderly; the smallest difference between groups occurred on the 1st testing day, and the largest occurred on the last day of testing. On these days the effect was constant throughout the 36 min. of testing. The results support the contention that when certain conditions of testing are met, a reliable effect of noise on performance can be demonstrated.