Disruption of writing by background speech : Does sound source location and number of voices matter?

• It is not unusual that people have to write in an environment where background speech is present. Background speech can vary in both speech intelligibility and location of the sound source. Earlier research has shown disruptive effects of background speech on writing performance. To expand and reinforce this knowledge, the present study investigated the role of number of voices and sound source location in the relation between background speech and writing performance. Participants wrote texts in quiet or in background speech consisting of one or seven voices talking simultaneously located in front of or behind them. Overall, one voice was more disruptive than seven voices talking simultaneously. Self-reports showed that sound from the front was more disruptive compared with sound from behind. Results are in line with theory of interference-by-process, attentional capture, and the cross-modal theory of attention. The relevance of the results for open-office environments is discussed.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi -- Tillämpad psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology -- Applied Psychology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

distraction

sound source location

speech intelligibility

writing

Psychology

psykologi

inget Strategiskt forskningsområde (SFO)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)