Investigating soundscape perception

Socio-cultural and psycho-physiological dimensions of

soundscape perception

An exploratory pilot study in the City of Rome

Mario D’Andreta

General Purpose:

To identify interpretative models

of socio-cultural and psycho-physiological dimensions

involved in the soundscape perception

Locations

A busy crossroad in a shopping street

An outdoor cafe in an administrative

district

A local street market in a new trendy and multiethnic

neighbourhood

Research Steps

1. Historical, Social and Urbanistic Study of the Sites

2. Field recordings(In the morning, on weekdays during spring 2011)

5. Data Analysis

3. Extract of an Audio Clip for Each Location

4. Soundscape Listening and Evaluation

(Open-ended Questionnaire and Estimation Form of

Perceived Muscular Tensions)

- Environmental Sounds Classification

- Lexicometric Analysis of Text (Open-Ended Questionnaire)

- Factor Analysis and Cluster Analysis of Perceived Tensions

- Interpretation of Results

Hystorical, social and urban profile

1. Crossroad (Piazzale Appio)

- Appio Latino District, in the South-East of Rome

- Urbanized in the early 20th Century

- Commercial & Services District

- Upper Middle & Middle Classes

2. Outdoor Cafe (Piazzale Kouder Adenauer)

- Eur District, in the South-West of Rome

- Urbanized on the thirties of 20th Century (Planned to Celebrate the 20 years of Fascism with a Universal Exposition)

- Public and Private Organizations and Enterprises

- Medium and High Classes

3. Local Street Market (Via del Pigneto)

- Prenestino-Labicano District, in the South-East of Rome

- Urbanized in the late 19th Century

- High, Medium & Low Classes (Intellectuals, Artists, Students, Showbiz People and Foreigner Communities)

- Several Urban Trasformations during the 20th Century: Industrial Centre, Urban Decay, Trendy and Multiethnic Neighbourhood

Sonic profile

1. The Busy Crossroad

Human and mechanical sounds(voices of passers-by and loudtraffic noise in background)

2. The Outdoor Cafe

Human, mechanical and societal sounds(conversations and phone calls, slighttraffic on backgroud and sounds of a bar: handling of cups, spoons and glasses)

3. The Local Street Market

Human, mechanical, societal and natural sounds (voices, traffic in background, sounds of local market and birdssinging)

Socio-cultural dimensions of soundscape perception

Aspects emerged by the research

1. Distinction of soundscape elements into Sounds

and Noises (as positive or negative elements)

2. Two opposite attitudes towards noise

(soundscape elements perceived as negative)

Change

Complaint

1. Sounds vs Noises- Soundscape elements are not positive or negative by

themselves

- This difference depends on the type of Meaning attributedto the sounds and to their source

- This attribution of meaning can be related to the cultural proximity between sounds and listeners

2. Change vs Complaint

- This opposition is an effect of a differentability to Imagine Change

- It is related to different concept of Nature and Origin of Soundscape(as socio-cultural or naturalprocess)


Interpretative models


examples

1. The voices at the local street market are evaluated as positive and negative from different groups of respondent. These sounds may evokethe better life style of small townsor can be considered meaninglessand ripetitive

2. People who conceive the possibility of directly changing soundscape elementsperceived as negative, are focused on the change of human activities in the specificplace where soundscape occurs

Psycho-physiological dimensions of soundscape perception

Aspects emerged by the research

Two opposite postural patterns of response to the soundscapes under examination

Coherency with interpretative models developped for the two socio-cultural aspects emerged by the research, but need for further deepenstudies to better focus these findings

• One oriented to protect oneselffrom soundscape componentsperceived as negative

• Another oriented to movetowards the soundscapecomponents, whether positive or negative

Conclusions This research provides a double contribution(theoretical and practical) to the understanding of relation between man and his sonic environment

1. Interpretative models of the twosocio-cultural aspects emerged fromthe data analysis

2. Insight to draw up new strategies of urban soundscape improvement, based on citizens involvement and participation

Conclusions These results yeld some indications for further investigation, in order to:

Dimensions to investigate should include:

- cultural models and shared representations of reality

- social and working activities

- social organization of urban contexts

- values

- cultural and artistic expressions

- attitudes towards the environment and ways to use natural resources

- expectations for the future

- forms of mobility

- political orientations

- level of civic engagement

- models of social coexistence

• Verify the interpretative models provided by this research

• Deepen the study of socio-cultural dimensions which drive the relation between man and his sonic environment

Thank you for your attention

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