Accession Number:

ADA214944

Title:

Acoustic and Perceptual-Cognitive Factors in the Identification of 41 Environmental Sounds

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept. 1 Jun 1987-30 Jun 1989

Corporate Author:

GEORGE MASON UNIV FAIRFAX VA DEPT OF PSYCHOLOGY

Personal Author(s):

• Ballas, James A.

Report Date:

1989-10-20

Pagination or Media Count:

88.0

Abstract:

This paper addresses acoustic and perceptual-cognitive factors that correlate with aspects of identification performance. A previous study produced causal uncertainty values and identification times for 41 sounds. Acoustic attributes of the sounds and perceptual-cognitive ratings of the sounds were correlated with the uncertainty values and identification time. In addition, the ratings were correlated with the acoustic measures. Factor analyses of the perceptual-cognitive judgements and the acoustic attributes were also performed. Cluster analyses of the sounds using the factor scores and an index of causal confusion were performed. Results showed that identification time is related to causal uncertainty, to a perceptual-cognitive factor which incorporates aspects of perceived identifiability, and to some acoustic attributes of the sounds. The cluster analyses produced a cluster of water related sounds, a cluster of impact sounds, and other clusters depending on the variables being clustered.

Descriptors:

• *SOUND
• *BACKGROUND NOISE
• *AUDITORY PERCEPTION
• *IDENTIFICATION
• SCORING
• ACOUSTICS
• CLUSTERING
• FACTOR ANALYSIS
• IMPACT
• TIME INTERVALS

Subject Categories:

• Psychology
• Acoustics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE