Affiliation:
1. Illiana Aviation Sciences, Ltd. Las Cruces, New Mexico
Abstract
Knowledge of the effect of noise on performance is limited and generally inconclusive. Previous research indicates that the effect may depend on the subject's psychological set, that is, the belief that noise degrades, facilitates, or has no effect on performance. The type and complexity of the task being performed may also influence the effect of noise. Performance of tasks having an auditory component or that are perceptually or cognitively demanding, tends to worsen in noise. Higher intensities and longer durations of noise exposures also tend to produce poor performance. But the results of manipulating the above variables are not consistent. Relevant research is presented and reviewed.