Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
ir
Original Article (Pages1453-1463)
Abstract
Background
The learning environment dramatically affects the learning outcomes of students. Noise, inappropriate
temperature, insufficient light, overcrowded classes, misplaced boards and inappropriate classroom
layout all make up factors that could be confounding variables distracting students in class. This study
was conducted to examine the effect of noise in educational institutions on the academic achievement
of elementary school students in the academic year 2015-2016 in Ahvaz.
Materials and Methods
This study is applied and it is survey in terms of the nature of study. The population of the study
included all male elementary school students in Ahvaz, of whom 210 students were selected randomly
as the sample of the study. Cluster sampling was done by appropriate allocation. Questionnaires were
randomly distributed among students. Data collection tools included Hermance’s achievement
motivation questionnaire and the researcher-constructed questionnaire (observation checklist to
examine the physical parameters of noise in educational institutions) and interviews with students.
Validity of questionnaires was confirmed by content and construct validity, and the reliability of study
was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha. The data of the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics
(frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (factor analysis, t-test,
Kolmogorov - Smirnov test and one-way ANOVA analysis) in SPSS-21.
Results
The results showed that noise in educational institutions has a negative impact on learning and
academic achievement of elementary school students in Ahvaz (P<0.05).
Conclusion
Educational managers are recommended to reduce or remove the educational environment noises.
Key Words: Academic achievement, Educational institutions, Noise, Students.
*Please cite this article as: Gilavand A, Jamshidnezhad A. The Effect of Noise in Educational Institutions on
Learning and Academic Achievement of Elementary Students in Ahvaz, South West of Iran. Int J Pediatr 2016;
4(3): 1453-63.
*Corresponding Author:
Abdolreza Gilavand , Employed Expert on Faculty Appointments at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical
Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Email: gilavanda@gmail.com
Received date Jan 15, 2015 ; Accepted date: Feb 22, 2016
By considering and analyzing inputs such percentage, mean, standard deviation) and
as physical variables, planning can be inferential statistics (factor analysis, t-test,
made more consciously. In addition to Kolmogorov - Smirnov test and one-way
physical factors, there are other variables ANOVA analysis) in SPSS-21. In this
that affect learning and academic research, the sample data were selected
achievement, and by doing research in this from the different educational areas
regard, we can detect their effects. When including educational area no. 1: 50
education systems do not have the students, no. 2: 41 students, no.3: 59
necessary information in such basic fields, students and no. 4: 60 students.
correct performance cannot be expected in
2-2. Ethical Considerations
various fields of education. On the other
hand, in applied areas, understanding The ethical considerations necessary to
environmental factors affecting the satisfy the respondents were observed
educational process and considering them and they were ensured that their views
in planning increases mental health of will be kept confidential.
students and reduces their stress, resulting
in enhanced educational performance. The 2-4. Measuring tools
aim of this study was to examine the effect 2-4-1. Construction questionnaire
of noise in educational institutions on the
Observation checklist to examine physical
academic achievement of elementary
variables of coloring the learning
school students in academic year 2015-
environment: due to there is no standard
2016 in Ahvaz, Iran.
questionnaire related to subject of study,
2-MATERIALS AND METHODS after interviews with a number of teachers
and experts, to equip and modernize
2-1. Study design and population
schools and collect their views and taking
At a cross-sectional study (2015-2016), into account the scientific principles, a
the population of the study included all questionnaire was developed. Then, by
male elementary school students in Ahvaz, conducting pre-test (among 30 students),
(South-west of Iran), of whom 210 reliability and validity of questionnaire
students were selected randomly as the was calculated. Their validity was
sample of the study. Questionnaires were confirmed by content and construct
randomly distributed among students. Data validity was confirmed by a number of
collection tools included: Hermance’s experts and their reliability was calculated
achievement motivation questionnaire and and confirmed by Cronbach's alpha (87%).
the researcher-constructed questionnaire
2-3-2. Academic Achievement
(observation check-list to examine the
physical parameters of noise in educational Motivation Questionnaire of Hermance
(21)
institutions) and interviews with students.
Validity of questionnaires was confirmed It is one of the most common paper and
by content and construct validity, and the pencil questionnaire to assess the need for
research reliability was confirmed by achievement. Hermance (1977)
Cronbach's alpha. Cronbach's alpha co- constructed this questionnaire based on
efficient and retest method were experimental and theoretical knowledge
established for reliability of questionnaire about the need for achievement and
with the rate of 84% and 74%, respectively studying the related literature related. The
(21). initial questionnaire included 29 questions
developed based on ten characteristics that
The data of the study were analyzed using
distinguish people who have high
descriptive statistics (frequency,
achievement motivation with those who that questions were developed based on
have low achievement motivation. To them. Some of the questions were written
prepare materials of questionnaires, positively, while other groups of them
Hermance considered ten characteristics of were written negatively. T0 each question
people as based in selecting questions: of this questionnaire (Observation
checklist to examine physical variables of
High level of desire; coloring the learning environment), the
Strong motivation for upward minimum score (0) and maximum score
mobility; (2) were assigned, in the other hand:
Long resistance facing with (0): If the school has not met the standard
assignments or moderate difficulty principles at all in the studied component
level; (non-standard);
Willingness to reattempt in doing (1): If the school has met the standard
assignments; principles relatively in the studied
Dynamic perception of time, the component (semi-standard);
feeling that things happen quickly; (2): If the school has met the standard
Foresight; principles fully in the studied component
Paying attention to merit criterion in (standard).
selecting friends, colleagues and
model; Given the number of questions in
Recognition through good observation checklist (5), the minimum
performance at work; score obtained by each school (completely
Doing job well; non-standard), and the maximum obtained
Low risk behavior. score by in terms of studied components,
researcher marks each item in terms of
Hermance found these ten characteristics meeting the standards according to three
was acquired on the base of previous standard option of standard, semi-standard
research and he selected them as guide for and non-standard. According to the
selecting the questions. After trial observation checklist, standard schools
implementation and analyzing the were those schools which required the min
questions and calculating the correlation of score based on confirmation of
individual questions with total test, 29 modernization, development and
questions were selected as final equipping of schools organization.
questionnaire of achievement motivation.
It should be noted that after analyzing the 2-4. Data analyses
questions, no significant question about the Data of study were analyzed using
tenth characteristics was included in the descriptive statistics (frequency,
final questionnaire. Therefore, the final percentage, mean, standard deviation) and
questionnaire was constructed only on the inferential statistics (factor analysis, t-test,
basis of nine characteristics. The questions Kolmogorov - Smirnov test and one-way
of questionnaire were stated as incomplete ANOVA analysis) at SPSS- 21 software.
sentences and multiple options were given In this section, the descriptive statistics
for each of the. To equalize the value of related to observation, a checklist to
questions, four options were written for all examine the impact of physical variables
29 questions. The options were given of noise on learning and achievement
score in terms of intensity of motivation of questionnaire of students was provided.
achievement from high to low or low to Then, statistical hypotheses were
high. Scoring the questionnaire was examined in the data analysis section. To
conducted based on nine characteristics examine the normal distribution of data,
standard deviation of this question have In (Table.4) the good fitness test of Chi-
been also 1.08±2.78. The seventh question square and the observed and expected
asked whether the class doors are adjacent frequency have been shown from
or opposite each other; 30 (12.7%) perspective of the students under question.
individuals have selected the option Results showed that the amount of Chi-
standard, 41 (17.3%) individuals the square test was equal to 20.35 and degree
option medium and 96(40.5%) individuals of freedom 2 with a significance level
the option non-standard. The mean and 0.001 is of error level is less than the error
standard deviation of this question have level of 0.05; so we accept the difference
been also 1.09±2.94. The eighth question between the observed frequency and
asked whether the adjacent classes use a expected frequency and consider the test
common ventilation duct; 23 (9.7%) significant. Since the Chi-square test is
individuals have selected the option influenced by the highest frequency (at
standard, 58(24.5%) individuals the option least with 111 individuals), then we
medium and 102(43%) individuals the conclude with confidence of 95% that
option non-standard. The mean and from the perspective of elementary school
standard deviation of this question have male students of Ahvaz, noise in educational
been also 1.00±2.84. The ninth question institutions has had a moderate effect on
asked whether the sound of fluorescent their learning and academic achievement.
lights and air conditioning produce Also in this research there was not
disturbing noise; 29(12.2%) individuals observed any relationship between the
have selected the option standard, demographic variables under investigation
67(28.3%) individuals the option medium such as age, education level, education
and 81 (34.2%) individuals the option non- district of education place etc. and the
standard. The mean and standard deviation amount of learning and academic
of this question have been also 1.08±2.78. achievement(P>0.05).
Table 1: Demographic information of students
Variables Number and percentage of Students
Educational grade
2 11(5)
3 25(12)
4 38(18)
5 63(30)
6 73(35)
Total 210(100)
Age
7 15(7)
8 21(10)
9 38(18)
10 63(30)
11 73(35)
Total 210(100)
Educational area
1 50(24)
2 41(20)
3 59(27)
4 60(29)
Total 210(100)
Cumulative variance
Number of Percentage of
Factors Eigen value percentage
questions variance
Noise in educational 51.14
9 1.89 3.79
institutions
Table 3: Frequency and percentage of respondents regarding to the noise on learning and academic
achievement
Response
Questions Mean+ SD P-value
Standard Moderate Non-standard
N (%) N (%) N (%)
Rubber hot-shoes suitable for all
tables and benches are installed. 35(14.8) 64(27) 80(33.8) 2.71(1.06) 0.640
Table4: Chi-square goodness of fit test and observed and expected frequency
Variables Observed Expected Remaining P-value
frequency frequency
Standard 69 79 -10.0
Students’ Moderate 98 79 32.0 0.001
perspective Non-standard 37 79 22.0
Total 210
(22), Lewinski et al. (23), Dockrell et al. environment. Most importantly, the
(24) and Wagemans et al. (25). Noise is authors highlight that the relative position
well known to have an impact on human of school- yards and recreation spaces is
performance. Chiang and Lai (15) often ill conceived with respect of the rest
investigated and identified some of the of the school.
negative effects of working in a noisy In addition, the architectural design and
room, with a focus on young children. material choices allow for voice and noise
They claim that noise influences not only to be carried between two adjoined
learning outcomes, but also the health of classrooms and hallways. Noise level is
the occupants. In the case of young another important issue when looking at
children, they have not yet developed how acoustics affects academic
enough executive skill in activities performance. No internationally
involving communication channels, like recognized norms on maximum noise
speech comprehension, use of language, levels for classrooms exist, but, for
and written and oral skills (16). Therefore, example, Brazil’s regulatory body has
interference profoundly interrupts the mandated a maximum of 40 dBA (19).
process of acquiring those essential However, one well- controlled study of
capacities in children, and noise is far from classroom noise levels revealed values
the only possible kind of interference. over 40 dBA for each of five tested
Noise undermines reading, writing and classrooms with open and closed windows
comprehension skills, as well as overall (19). In the same study, the authors found
academic performance, as noise makes it that both students and teachers pointed out
hard to focus on the task being performed that noise in the classroom was a major
(21). Chiang and Lai (15) reviewed source of disturbance for them. Interviews
previous findings on noise’s harmful effect with 62 teachers and 462 students included
on mental and physical well-being as part questions pertaining to how they evaluated
of their study. From a plethora of various acoustic aspects of their
demonstrable effects, the following classrooms. These interviews indicated
negative outcomes were reported that bothersome noise came mostly from
specifically in the context of a noisy room: other classrooms. Presumably, teachers
getting tired easily, leading to lower and students in adjoining classrooms spoke
efficiency; increased heart rate; dyspepsia; too loudly. The study reported that every
poor appetite; insomnia; headache;
objectively measured acoustic
tinnitus; and facial pallor Zannin and characteristic of the classrooms
Zwirtes (2009) carried out a study (background noise, reverberation time,
comparing schools built in 1977–2005 sound insulation) fell short of Brazil’s
according to three different recommended standards. In yet another study, researchers
standard designs for school buildings. showed clearly that classrooms were not a
Reverberation time, sound insulation
productive and comfortable place to
coefficients and ambient noise were co- acquire knowledge, because of poor
related to international standards. Their acoustics (22). Zannin et al. (21) and
research confirms what previous studies Zannin et al. (20) recently found this
have found. Many classrooms are simply pattern of negative effects again. Lewinsky
not comfortable places to acquire et al. considered the negative impact of
knowledge or to be mentally focused at all
noise on student learning in 2015. They
time, due to noise interference. Zannin and concluded that preference for a learning
Zwirtes (18) showed that even following environment that cues a telic motivation
standard best practices for design, the state in the students (23).
results are sub-optimal for a learning
calculations have shown that the best way 8. Woolner P, Hall E. Noise in schools: A
to control noise is based on the modified holistic approach to the issue. Int J Environ
acoustic structures for schools. Studies Res Public Health 2010;7:325569.
have shown that most educational spaces 9. Hygge S. Summary of the nonauditory
in our new schools, especially in remote effects of noise on children′s health. In:
and disadvantaged areas are not Bistrup ML, Keiding L, editors. Children and
compatible with psychotic features of Noise: Prevention of Adverse Effects.
children and adolescents. Therefore, it is Copenhagen: National Institute of Public
necessary to exert modifications in this Health 2002; 1628:1628.
regard. Physical variables, even if they 10. American National Standards Institute.
have no impact on students' academic American National Standard Acoustical
achievement, should be taken into Performance Critera, Design, Requirements,
consideration for maintaining health care and Guidelines for Schools (ANSI S12.60-
and mental health and safety. 2002). New York: American National
Standards Institute; 2002.
6- CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None. 11 Shojaeean A, Maleki S, Omidipoor.
Metropolitan Educational placement using
7- REFERENCES Boolean Logic and Fuzzy multi variance
1. Sapna Ch, Sianna A, Victoria C, Andrew decision making method. Education planning
N. Designing Classrooms to Maximize Student study 2013; 2(4): 137-166.
Achievement. Policy Insights from the 12. Karen MK. Chan Chi Mei Li, Estella PM.
Behavioral and Brain Sciences 2014; 1(1): 4- Ma, Edwin ML. Yiu. Bradley McPherson
12. Noise levels in an urban Asian school
2. Gaines KS, Curry ZD. The inclusive environment 2015; 17(4): 48-55.
classroom: The effects of color on learning 13. Karami kh, Cheraghi M, Firoozabadi M.
and behavior. Journal of Family and Consumer Traffic Noise as a series effect on class
Sciences Education 2011; 29(1), 46-57. teachers in Firoozabad city, Iran Medical
3. Crandell CC, Smaldino JJ. Classroom Journal of Islamic World Academy of
acoustics for children with normal hearing and Sciences 2012; 20(2): 48-55.
with hearing impairment. Lang Speech Hear 14. Moeinpour H, Nasre Esfahani H, Saedi E.
Serv Sch 2000; 31: 36270. Impact of Physical factors on student
4. Smaldino JJ, Crandell CC, Kreisman BM, achievement in educational and psychological
John AB, Kreisman NV. Room acoustics for studies 2005; 4(4):12-25.
listeners with normal hearing and hearing 15. Chiang C, Lai C. Acoustical environment
impairment. In: Valente M, HosfordDunn H, valuation of joint class- rooms for primary
Roesner R, editors. Audiology. Treatment. 2 schools in Taiwan. Build. Environ 2008;
nd ed. New York: Thieme; 2008; 41851. 43(4):1619–32.
5. Picard M, Bradley JS. Revisiting speech 16. Mills, J. H. Noise and children: a
interference in classrooms. Audiology 2001; review of literature. J. Acoust. Soc. Am.
40:22144. 1975; 58(4):767-79.
6. Shield B, Greenland E, Dockrell J. Noise in 17. DiSarno NJ, Schowalter M, Grassa P.
open plan classrooms in primary schools: A Classroom amplification to enhance student
review. Noise Health 2010;12:22534. performance. Teach. Except.Children 2002;
7. Shield BM, Dockrell JE. The effects of 34(6):20-6.
environmental and classroom noise on the 18. Zannin PHT, Zwirtes DPZ. Evaluation of
academic attainments of primary school the acoustic per- form ance of classrooms in
children. J Acoust Soc Am 2008;123:13344. public schools. Appl. Acoust 2009; 70: 625-
35.
19. Zannin PHT, Marcon CR. Objective and 25. Wagemans J, Elder JH, Kubovy M, Palmer
subjective evalua- tion of the acoustic comfort SE, Peterson MA, Singh M, et al. A century of
in classrooms. Appl. Ergon 2007; 38: 675-80. Gestalt psychology in visual perception: I.
Perceptual grouping and figure–ground
20. Zannin PHT, Engel MS, Fiedler PEK,
organization. Psychol. Bull 2012;
Bunn F. Characterization of environmental
138(12):1172-1217.
noise based on noise measurements, noise
mapping and interviews: a case study at a 26. Akbari B. Validity of motivation
university campus in Brazil. Cities 2013; questionnaire of Heremence on students of
31(7):317-27. high school in Guilan Providence
knowledge and research in educational
21. Zannin PHT, Passero CRM, Zwirtes DPZ.
sciences 2007;16:73-96.
Assessment of acoustic quality in classrooms
based on measurements, perception and noise 27. Gilavand A, Hosseinpour M. Investigating
control, in Noise Control, Reduction and the Impact of Educational Spaces Painted on
Cancellation Solutions in Engineering. ed. Learning and Educational Achievement of
Siano D, editor. Rijeka: InTech - Open Access Elementary Students in Ahvaz, Southwest of
Publisher; 2012. Iran. Int J Pediatr 2016; 4(2): 1387-96.
22. Kruger EL, Zannin PHT. Acoustic, thermal 28. Gilavand A. An Analytical Review of
and luminous comfort in classrooms. Build. Regulations on Promotion of Faculty Members
Environ 2004; 39:1055-63. of Universities and Institutions of Higher
Education, Ministry of Health and Medical
23. Lewinski P. Effects of classrooms’
Education of the Islamic Republic of Iran (An
architecture on academic performance in view
Analytical Review). Journal of Academic and
of telic versus paratelic motivation: a review.
Applied 2015; 5(10): 38-45.
Front Psychol 2015; 6: 746.
24. Dockrell JE, Shield B. The impact of
sound-field systems on learning and attention
in elementary school classrooms. J Speech
Lang Hear Res 2012; 55(4):1163-76.