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...day. particular, noise is the most prevalent problem. The effect on early adolescents can be physiological, according to a study on heart rate and blood pressure (Neus, Ruddel, Schulte, & Von Eiff, 1983; Regecova & Kellcrova, 1995). Kasdorf and Klappach (1968) found that children in quieter school environments have fewer problems with high blood pressure, while children, especially boys, in city centers, have higher blood pressure. It is common knowledge that noise also causes stress (Ewans, Lercher, Meis, Ising, & Koler, 2001; Ising, Babisch, & Kruppa, 1999).
In studying the second level psychological effects, focus is on the effect of noise on attentiveness at work (Kyzar, 1977), memory (Hygge, 1993; Fosnaric & Planinsec, 2006), and speech perception. Research has noted that noise can cause numerous diseases. In the past, researchers believed that noise had a harmful effect only on the hearing organs, but today the effects have been shown to be much wider. Besides its harmful effect on the health of young people, noise indirectly affects their work. The greater the noise, the more intense its effect. Such noise disturbs both teachers and students. It especially disturbs normal conversation (Crook & Langdon, 1974; Ko, 1981; Sargent, Gidman, Humphreys, & Utley, 1980).
The effect of noise on the learning process has received considerable study both in schools and in laboratory settings. In contrast, relatively little research has been performed on how noise affects the work performance of early adolescents The present study examines the effects on specific school tasks.
METHOD
Participants
The study sample consisted of 20 boys from Slovenia; 13.5 years (SD [+ or -] 0.25). All adolescents had been previously informed of the nature of the study, and written consent obtained from their parents.
Measures
The study was performed in artificially created work conditions--in a "climate chamber" where we could determine and vary the parameters of the sound, lighting, and thermal environment. In this way we were able to combine noise parameters--L (two levels: optimal-normal and increased-maximal noise level) with other stresses such as lighting--E (three levels: low-minimal, optimal-normal, and increased-maximal along...
NOTE: All illustrations and photos
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