The effects of meaningfulness, intermittency, and intensity of noise on the performance of a mental arithmetic task

Includes bibliographical references (pages 45-46)Fiity-four subjects randomly assigned to six groups in a 2xJx3 experimental paradigm were required to perfrom a subtraction task involving a memory component. Subjects performed the task under continuous or aperiodic noise at one of three intensity levels: 50, 70, or 90 dB. Each group was exposed to three different conditions oi noise meaningfulness in counterbalanced order. Dependent measures were percent correct responses, memorization time, calculation time, and total time per problem. Only a significant effect for noise intensity was round. The results indicated that the subjects performed best under the 70 dB condition, whereas no difference in performance was found between the 50 and 90 dB conditions. This effect was explained in terms of Easterbrooks' (1959) arousal hypothesis. Limitations of this study were discussed, and suggestions for further research were made