A listener-centred approach to soundscape evaluation

Foale, K and Davies, WJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5835-7489 2012, A listener-centred approach to soundscape evaluation , in: Acoustics 2012, 23-27 April 2012, Nantes.

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Abstract

I am conducting a Grounded Theory study into measuring opinions of urban soundscapes. Participants are given a small portable recording device and asked to keep a sound diary for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, they are given a 60-minute interview about their experiences. The methodology is designed to give people time to think about soundscapes on their own terms, recording what is important to them, rather than using a researcher-selected environment and vocabulary. Early data suggests people listen in a multitude of ways that challenge existing ideas of modes of listening, care more about work and home environments than public places, and that the role and importance of soundscape is both quantitatively and qualitatively different in varying environments. I also question the idea of what an expert listener is, with examples of various ways participants have demonstrated very high aural acuity without any acoustics, sound engineering or musical background, for instance.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Themes:	Built and Human Environment
Schools:	Schools > School of Computing, Science and Engineering > Salford Innovation Research Centre
Journal or Publication Title:	Acoustics 2012 Nantes
Publisher:	Acoustics 2012
Refereed:	No
Funders:	University of Salford Acoustics Research Centre
Depositing User:	Kim Foale
Date Deposited:	06 Sep 2013 15:34
Last Modified:	13 Jan 2018 02:07
URI:	http://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/29467

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