Hear it here: Built environments predict ratings and descriptions of ambiguous sounds

Abstract

The built environments we move through are a filter for the stimuli we experience. If we are in a darker or a lighter room or space, a neutrally valenced sound could be perceived as more unpleasant or more pleasant. Past research suggests a role for the layout and lighting of a space in impacting how stimuli are rated, especially on bipolar valence scales. However, we do not know how affective experiences and descriptions of everyday auditory stimuli are impacted by built environments. In this study, we examine whether listening to a series of ambiguously valenced sounds in an older, darker building leads these sounds to be rated as less pleasant-and described using more negatively valenced language-compared to listening to these sounds in a newer building with more natural light. In a between-subjects design, undergraduate participants at an older building or a newer building (nOld = 46, nNew = 46; nFemale = 71, nMale = 18, MAge = 21.18, RangeAge = 17-38) listened to ten sounds that had previously been rated as ambiguous in valence, then rated these sounds on a bipolar valence scale before being asked to describe, in writing, how they felt about each sound. Participants rated sounds as being more pleasant at the New site compared to the Old site, but the sentiment of their descriptions only differed between sites when controlling for collinearity. However, bipolar scale ratings and description sentiment were highly correlated. Our findings suggest a role for the features of built environments in impacting how we appraise the valence of everyday sounds.

Fig 1. Images of the sites used in each condition.

(A) The site used in the Old condition; (B) the site used in the New condition.

Fig 2. Diagram of the trials in each phase of the task.

In the first phase (A), participants listen to and rate the valence of 20 sounds on a bipolar scale. In the second phase (B), participants listen to the same 20 sounds and describe in text how they feel about the sound.

Fig 3. Schematic of the factor structure of the statistical analyses used.

Fig 4. Mean sound ratings from (A) bipolar scale and (B) sentiment analysis scores by site.

Fig 5. Linear regression of mean sound ratings from bipolar scale and sentiment analysis scores by site.