Connecting design, emotion, and behaviour in urban soundscape

Carvalho, MLDU; Davies, WJ; Fazenda, BM

Abstract

With the purpose of assisting developments in urban soundscape design, the present research investigates how soundscapes can influence emotions and behaviours in public spaces aiming to find healthy reactions to “exciting” sonic environments. In the current study, an “exciting” soundscape represents sounds with high levels of pleasantness and eventfulness. Initially, structured interviews with local residents determined the number of "exciting" soundscapes in public places of Manchester (UK) region so locations could be recorded using a sound-field microphone and a 360º camera. Then, through laboratory reproductions of 3D audiovisual samples, participants subjectively evaluated the environments using headphones and a head-mounted display so to identify which behavioural options they consider appropriate to the context. Next, selections of the identified public spaces will be observed through the non-participatory method to verify if laboratory results reoccur on the field. Future steps of this research are as follows: to repeat the experiment with the other three emotional dimensions which are calm, monotonous, and chaotic; to observe human behaviour through non-participatory method in the soundscape context in order to observe if laboratory results reoccur on field; to develop a soundscape art installation to test the identified behaviours; and to establish evidence-based guidelines for urban soundscape design. Non-participatory observations make a common procedure in environmental psychology research, and, in specific cases, the method may be superior to the participatory methods given it provides higher “ecological validity” of responses. These observations of unconscious behaviour could indicate natural responses to the soundscape and, consequently, represent evidence for urban planning.

Citation

Carvalho, M., Davies, W., & Fazenda, B. (2019, July). Connecting design, emotion, and behaviour in urban soundscape. Poster presented at SPARC 2019 Fake News and Home Truths, MediaCity UK, Salford

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: SPARC 2019 Fake News and Home Truths
• Conference Location: MediaCity UK, Salford
• Start Date: Jul 3, 2019
• End Date: Jul 4, 2019
• Publication Date: Jul 3, 2019
• Deposit Date: Sep 2, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 2, 2019
• Publisher URL: http://pg.salford.ac.uk/sparc_conference
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference