On the definition of noise. — TEI-tagged view

Fangfang LiupersName, Shan JiangpersName, Jian KangpersName, Yue WupersName, Da YangpersName, Qi MengpersName, Chaowei WangpersName (2022date). “On the definition of noise..” Humanities and Social Sciences Communicationstitle·j.

Object of study — how the general public understands and defines noiseterm·dom

Research question — what noiseterm·dom is, how people perceive it, and whether the general public and professionals perceive it differently

Contribution — a grounded-theory account of noiseterm·dom in four categories (challenges, definition, opportunities, action) that refines the concept of noiseterm·dom at the level of human consciousness

Full text — tagged

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On the definition of noiseterm·dom.

Abstract Urbanization has exposed people to extreme sound levels. Although researchers have investigated the ability of people to listen, analyze, and distinguish sound, the concept of noiseterm·dom has not been clearly articulated from a human perspective. The lack of knowledge on how people perceive noiseterm·dom limits our capacity to control it in a targeted manner. This study aimed to interpret the definition of noiseterm·dom from the public perspective based on a grounded theoryterm approach. Seventy-eight participants were interviewed about noiseterm·dom, and four categories of perceived understanding of noiseterm·dom were identified: challenges, definitions of noiseterm·dom, opportunities, and action. As one of the challenges, urbanization is associated with increased noiseterm·dom levels around the human environment. In terms of definition, perceiving sound as noiseterm·dom is considered to be a result of the complex and dynamic process that includes sound, the environment, and humans. Sound and humans interact with the environment. In terms of opportunities, noiseterm·dom may have positive roles on certain occasions, dispelling the misconception that noiseterm·dom is exclusively negative. In addition, we found that noiseterm·dom perception has gradually shifted from noise controlterm·key to noiseterm·dom utilization. In terms of action, noiseterm·dom can be controlled at the sound sources, susceptible target groups, susceptible behaviors and states, locations, and times where noiseterm·dom is perceived with high frequency. In this study, we investigated several aspects of noiseterm·dom, ranging from noise controlterm·key, soundscapeterm·dom definition, and ‘soundscape indicesterm·key’ (SSIDterm) integration and application. Our findings provide an additional basis for developing better definitions, control, and utilization strategies of noiseterm·dom in the future, thereby improving the quality of the sound environment.

Introduction Noiseterm·dom has plagued mankind and has been studied for many years. The first ever complaint about noiseterm·dom was recorded in the second millennium BC as part of the Mesopotamian epic Atrahasis, which refers to noiseterm·dom disturbance depriving people of sleep. Noiseterm·dom, a common law nuisance, was reported in England in the 18th century and included the continuous ringing of church bells (day and night), which severely disrupted people’s sleep. Besides, the industrial revolution introduced industrial machinery noiseterm·dom, and the rapid growth of many cities around the Second World War enhanced noiseterm·dom problems. In addition, the concept of the soundscapeterm·dom was reported (Schafer, 1996 ). It is important to generate good sound but control noiseterm·dom (KangpersName, 2019 ). Murray R. Schafer wrote in his book The Soundscapeterm·dom: Our Sonic Environment and the Tuning of the World (Schafer, 1996 ), “Starting with nature’s primal sounds, humans have encountered this ever complexity of our acoustic surrounds. As humanity progresses, new sounds emerge all around us. Currently, massive acoustic information is available which reduces our ability to listen to the complexities and intricacies of sound.” He claims that our goal is to hear, analyze, and create distinctions. The International Organization for Standardization defines a soundscapeterm·dom as, “acoustic environment as perceived or experienced and/or understood by people, in context” (Standardization IOf, 2014 ). Although the standards and controls for noiseterm·dom exposure have improved, the noiseterm·dom problem remains inadequately addressed in some countries (Silva et al., 2020 ; Yongbing and Hal Martin, 2013 ). Noiseterm·dom is a major public health issue that continues to grow (WHO, 2018 ). Thus, the reduction of noiseterm·dom levels is a key focus of global environmental acoustics regulations and policies and the soundscapeterm·dom field (KangpersName, 2019 ). Since professional and lay people have divergent understandings of the acoustic environment, conflicts can occur when the public’s risk perception differs from that of government experts (LiupersName et al., 2021 ; YangpersName, 2020 ). Therefore, noise controlterm·key strategies should consider the needs of all stakeholders, which include the public. In fact, involving the public in the decision-making processes is effective in the implementation of noiseterm·dom management interventions (Heyes et al., 2021 ; Riedel et al. 2021a , 2021b ). Therefore, it is important to understand noiseterm·dom from a public perspective.

Literature review A bibliometric approach based on VOSviewer (v.1.6.17) and CiteSpace (v.5.7 R5) analysis were adopted in this study. Bibliometric analysisterm monitors changes in specific research areas from a quantitative perspective thereby revealing emerging trends and research progress in specific areas. Bibliometric analysisterm is often performed in conjunction with visualization using charts created through VOSviewer and CiteSpace. These charts allow for a clear and effective presentation of data. A title search was conducted on the Web of Science using the keyword ‘noiseterm·dom’ to identify studies published between 2010 and 2022. A total of 20,072 studies were obtained. The studies were collected and analyzed using data mining visualization software VOSviewer and CiteSpace to identify research hotspots and co-category networks.

In Fig. 1 , the purple to the blue region represents research hotspots in the field of noiseterm·dom research from 2015 to 2016, which mainly include surface-wave tomography, interferometry, single-cell, populations, decoherence, transport, heterogeneity, systems, evolution, tomography, and variability. The blue to green region indicates the research hotspots between 2016 and 2017 which mainly include health, perception, ambient noiseterm·dom, recognition, exposure, hearing loss, environment, seismic noiseterm·dom, design, algorithm, prediction, tracking, noiseterm·dom reduction, anthropogenic noiseterm·dom, transportation noiseterm·dom, air pollution, and road traffic noiseterm·key. Finally, the green to yellow region denotes the relevant research hotspots between 2017 and 2018, which include aeroacoustics, image denoising, physical layer security, and cochlear synaptopathy. Fig. 1 Visualization of research hotspots.

In summary, research on noiseterm·dom covers various aspects including noiseterm·dom (2015–2016, purple to the blue band), the relationship between noiseterm·dom and humans, noiseterm·dom classified according to different environments, noiseterm·dom prediction and control (2016–2017, blue to green band), and noise controlterm·key design at the technological level. Research hotspots appear to be in highly sophisticated fields such as aerospace and medicine (2017–2018, green to yellow range) (Fig. 1 ).

In CiteSpace, time was set to 2010–2022, with a one-year time slice, yielding a total of 251 nodes and 704 connected lines. The results of the co-category network analysis were visualized in the form of a visual network (Fig. 2 ). The size of each node reflects the co-occurrence frequency of the subject categories. In CiteSpace, centralityterm is a metric that finds and measures the importance of a document in the network, with values ranging from 0 to 1. Literature with high centralityterm (centralityterm ≥ 0.1, nodes with purple rings) is often a key hub connecting two different domains. Six subject categories including Environment Science & Ecology (0.18), Psychology (0.14), Neuroscience & Neurology (0.14), Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Application (0.11), Linguistic (0.10), and Public, Environmental & Occupational Health (0.10) had a centralityterm ≥ 0.1. Fig. 2 Co-category network analysis.

In Environment Science & Ecology, noiseterm·dom is defined as any acoustic phenomenon that causes an unpleasant or disturbing sensation (Australia, 1997 ; Can et al., 2020 ). In this context, noiseterm·dom is considered to have detrimental effects on the environment, the soundscapeterm·dom, and disrupt the natural and ‘necessary’ quietness (Thompson, 2017 ). High noiseterm·dom levels are the most challenging to describe and mitigate despite the growing desire of urban dwellers for a comfortable and environmentally friendly city (Can et al., 2020 ; Organization, 2011 ).

In psychology, noiseterm·dom is a genome-wide phenomenon comprising intrinsic and extrinsic noiseterm·dom induced by the stochastic nature of biochemical reactions and the microenvironment, respectively (Zhou et al., 2022 ). Each of the Big Five personality dimensions (neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) affects human perception of noise sensitivityterm·key (Shepherd et al., 2015 ). Extroversion and neuroticism are the most important factors influencing noise sensitivityterm·key and noise annoyanceterm·key when compared with conscientiousness and openness to experience (Moghadam et al., 2021 ).

In Neuroscience and Neurology, random disruptions of signals, which are referred to as ‘noiseterm·dom,’ pose a basic problem in the processing of information and affect every aspect of nervous-system features (Faisal et al., 2008 ). Computational noiseterm·dom is defined as the random variability of model updates within the environment that can reflect true neural noiseterm·dom (e.g., the reward probability associated with each choice option in an inverse learning task). Even though computational noiseterm·dom is one of the most common causes of inference errors in perceptual decision-making, it results in less predictable behavior, which is beneficial in competitive social contexts.

In Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Application, noiseterm·dom is defined as an unwanted disturbance in an electrical signal. Besides, noiseterm·dom has a loop-breaking effect on the stability of network systems (Guo et al., 2021 ). Real-world data is imperfect and is often prone to corruption (noiseterm·dom) that can affect data interpretation, model creation, and decision-making (Zhu and Wu, 2003 ).

In Linguistics, noiseterm·dom is defined as sounds that corrupt the recognition of spectral information in speech (Chen et al., 2014 ; Fu et al., 1998 ). Research on the effects of noiseterm·dom on human conversation comprehension, speech perception, and spoken language recognition has shown that older listeners are more likely to experience difficulties in understanding speech, especially in challenging environments with background noiseterm·dom (Ben et al., 2011 ). Background noiseterm·dom affects the number of correctly recognized words, in addition to reaction time and perceptual hearing (Larsby et al., 2008 ).

Many studies in Public, Environmental & Occupational Health have investigated the association between environmental noiseterm·dom, noise annoyanceterm·key, and potential effects (e.g. health effects, work performance, psychological state, and cognitive performance) (Xing et al., 2021 ). Noiseterm·dom has been found to trigger worry-related negative emotional reactions such as irritability, distress, and fatigue brought. Dissatisfaction with the sound environment can have a negative impact on health, well-being, job satisfaction, productivity, and many other life aspects (Babisch et al., 2009 ; Basner et al., 2014 ; Xing et al., 2021 ). Noiseterm·dom has an economic impact, with noiseterm·dom pollution costing 0.2–2% of GDP, and house prices fall by 0.6% for every decibel increase in noiseterm·dom (KangpersName, 2007 ).

Aim and objectives There has been no systematic research on what noiseterm·dom is, how people perceive it, and if noiseterm·dom is perceived differently by the general public and professionals. This study employed a user-centered systematic qualitative analysis of noiseterm·dom and grounded theoryterm interview methods. It aimed to understand how noiseterm·dom is understood and defined from the basis of general public perception using interview data.

Methods Quantifiable research is widely used in the social sciences and humanities, including anthropology, sociology, education, health sciences, history, and so on. Quantifiable research can be used to gain in-depth information and insight into a problem as well as to generate new research ideas (Acun and Yilmazer, 2018 , 2019 ; Conrad, 1978 ; Glaser, 1992 , 2002 ; Glaser et al., 1968 ). Accordingly, a qualitative study based on the grounded theoryterm (GTterm) method of analysis was used to investigate the perceptions of people on noiseterm·dom.

Participants and interviews In this study, we conducted semi-structured interviews through circular discussions around the concept of noiseterm·dom to understand the public’s general understanding of noiseterm·dom. At theoretical saturation, there were 78 interviewed respondents including 38 females and 40 males; ranging between 18 and 62 years old (mean age was 29.67 and the standard deviation (SD) was 12.72) (Acun and Yilmazer, 2018 ; Davies et al., 2022 ; Karimimoshaver et al., 2020 ; LiupersName and KangpersName, 2016 ; LiupersName et al., 2021 ; Lovrić et al., 2018 ; Pryce et al., 2018 ; Zhang et al., 2021 ). Furthermore, the respondents were from 11 daily occupations, including students, teachers, engineers, designers, civil servants, financial industry workers, workshop workers, restaurant owners, drivers, housewives, and freelancers. The research team interviewed six foreigners with a history of residence and travel to China, including two from Germany, and one from Korea, Nigeria, Poland, and the United Kingdom, to learn about how foreigners perceive noiseterm·dom in China. The age, gender, and education level of the interviewees are shown in Fig. 3 . Ethical review and approval were waived for the study on human participants in accordance with local legislation and institutional requirements. Fig. 3 Participants’ age and education information.

The interview was structured around the following two aspects: (1) demographic information, such as age, gender, occupation, and education level of the respondent and (2) the perception and opinion of people on noiseterm·dom, which was captured in questions such as what do you consider as noiseterm·dom in your understanding? Can you describe it? Can you discuss noiseterm·dom from the perspective of your daily life?

A total of 78 interviews, each lasting 30–60 min were conducted. With the consent of the interviewees, each interview was recorded and transcribed by the researcher, producing approximately 36,000 words of interview transcripts.

Data analysis The data analysis was performed by a team of two researchers who have worked in the field of soundscapeterm·dom and are familiar with qualitative research (Zhang et al., 2021 ). The two data analysts from the research teams independently coded the interview texts but were not involved in pre-programming to ensure the objectivity of the research findings. The results of the two data analysis teams were then consolidated and compared and passed to the expert panel for scrutiny (Pryce et al., 2018 ). The expert panel consisted of two experts working in the field of acoustics and familiar with qualitative research and assessed the credibility of the coding to ensure the accuracy of the results and the soundness of the way the data were coded (Davies et al., 2022 ).

Grounded Theoryterm (GTterm) is a user-centered approach to the systematic analysis of qualitative data (Acun and Yilmazer, 2018 , 2019 ). It can be summarized simply as “finding theory in data” (Glaser et al., 1968 ). The results of the multi-step analytical method based on Glaser’s methods (Glaser, 1992 ) are shown in Fig. 4 . The procedure was as follows: Fig. 4 The grounded theory-based procedures.

(1) Open coding : outlining and coding keywords in the text about the subjective perceptions of noiseterm·dom (Acun and Yilmazer, 2019 ); (2) Restating key phrases: reading relevant sections similar to the interview text and recognizing recurring words and expressions; (3) Reducing phrases: accumulation and reduction of codes; (4) Identifying concepts: posing questions, attempting to compare and relate theoretical sampling, recommending terms for concepts, and determining the logic between them. For example, identifying if any of the soundscapeterm·dom phrases is the most significant. Finally, the concepts were compared, and new questions were posed in light of the preliminary findings (Conrad, 1978 ); (5) Generating categories: Relying on a few similar concepts in the perception of participants of noiseterm·dom, similar concepts were combined to form categories that included noiseterm·dom definitions and measures of progress. Other categories were made up of various concepts that have been combined; (6) Identifying subcategories: Trying to identify subcategory characteristics and attributes across a variety of aspects; (7) Linking categories: Making associations between categories; (8) Integrating mini-theory: incorporating mini-theories to improve the application strength of the theory; (9) Discovering core categories: just like noiseterm·dom definitions with wide relationships to those other categories; (10) Generating the substantive theory: on noiseterm·dom perception and subjective perception recognizing (Glaser, 2002 ).

The interview text was collated and analyzed according to the aforementioned steps, resulting in 894 labeled data points (a1), 527 conceptualized data points (aa1), 67 categorized data points (a1), and four categorized data points (aa1). The specific results are shown in Table 1 . Table 1 Illustration of the GT-based encoding process. Sorting memos Labeling Conceptualizing data Categorizing data Categories Subcategorized What can be considered as noiseterm·dom according to your understanding? Can you describe it? “Noiseterm·dom is the sound that is noticed, it is the noiseterm·dom that produces the disturbance, many sounds are not noticed and it doesn’t matter. What about noticing? There are sounds that interfere with your behavior. If you are on the phone, for example, it interferes. And when you are working, for example, it interferes. or talking, he interferes. I think it’s noiseterm·dom that interferes with people’s behavior or thoughts.” Can you talk about noiseterm·dom in relation to your daily experience? It’s when you want to do something, you notice the noiseterm·dom, and this doing may also be, for example, what is called a proper job, or it may be to find something or do something, just a behavior. It is the person who does more things, and this doing is a particularly broad definition. For example, when thinking about the sun, sunbathing, or whatever, or she also needs to be quiet for a while, he needs to rest and relax, for example, with his eyes closed, when all the external things are all noiseterm·dom. So it’s just I think it’s still just about the behavior. What can be considered noiseterm·dom according to your understanding? Can you describe it? Noiseterm·dom is the sound that one does not want to hear. Anything that is unpleasant to the ear is. An environment in which all kinds of unpleasant sounds persist is called a noisy environment. Can you talk about noiseterm·dom in relation to your daily experience? The definition of noiseterm·dom is also determined by the mood of the person. When people are depressed and weak, they define a large number of sounds as noiseterm·dom. The presence of noiseterm·dom is most likely to be perceived when people are in a depressed mood. … a1 Noiseterm·dom is the sound that is noticed, it is the noiseterm·dom that produces the disturbance, many sounds are not noticed and it doesn’t matter. a2 There are sounds that interfere with your behavior. a3 Noiseterm·dom can interfere when on the phone a4 Noiseterm·dom interferes when you’re working a5 Noiseterm·dom interferes when talking a6 It is what is noticed, what interferes with human behavior or thought, that I think is noiseterm·dom a7 It’s when you want to do something, you notice the noiseterm·dom, and this doing may also be, for example, what is called a proper job, or it may be to find something or do something, just a behavior. a8 It is the person who does more things, and this doing is a particularly broad definition. a9 For example, when thinking in the sun, sunbathing or whatever, or she also needs to be quiet for a while, he needs to rest and relax, for example, with his eyes closed, when all the external things are all noiseterm·dom a10 So it’s just I think it’s still just about the behavior. a11. Noiseterm·dom is the sound that one does not want to hear. Anything that is unpleasant to the ear is. a12. An environment in which all kinds of unpleasant sounds persist is called a noisy environment. a13. The definition of noiseterm·dom is also determined by the mood of the person. a14. When people are depressed and weak, they define a large number of sounds as noiseterm·dom. a15. The presence of noiseterm·dom is most likely to be perceived when people are in a depressed mood..… aa1 Noiseterm·dom exists all the time in human daily life. (a344,a351,a555 and a635) aa2 Noiseterm·dom is everywhere in our daily lives (a280, a479, a512, and a720) aa3 Noiseterm·dom is inevitable in our daily lives (a207, a558, a651, and a795) aa4 A car horn is nothing more than a necessity, and a small vendor just wants to sell things in the street. (a840) aa5 There is nothing you can do with children running around upstairs in your house and you want to sleep, there is nothing anyone can do to change the reality of this (a847) aa6 The sudden noiseterm·dom in a quiet coffee shop, which sadly is the norm for people, makes one wonder about the level of upbringing. (a408) aa7 I think that a lot of noiseterm·dom is caused by a lack of public spirit. It’s not that you don’t realize you are making noiseterm·dom, it’s that you don’t have the health and feelings of others at heart. (a466) aa8 It seems that noiseterm·dom is also related to the quality of people. (a656) aa9 It’s probably because no one is educated that there are so many noise-making “experts”. (a658) aa10 Then, as seemed inevitable, my routine was gradually postponed and postponed again, and I was often not ready for bed until one or two o’clock. But this inevitably disturbed the rest of some of my classmates (a252) aa11 But just as I was editing this article, our class actually became the emitters of noiseterm·dom, with another class shouting out, Stop it (a255) aa12 When I am one with my environment, I am both the receiver and the emitter of sound (a253, a258, a560, and a678) aa13 Along with the development of the times, society is progressing and our quality of life is improving, while the noiseterm·dom around us is also increasing (a348, a353, a649, a668, a669, and a876) aa14 There is a lot of noiseterm·dom around us from time to time (a239, a263, a414, a455, a541, and a600) aa15 So noiseterm·dom is with us all the time, it’s relevant to our lives (a284, … A1 Noiseterm·dom at all times (aa1) A2 Noiseterm·dom is everywhere (aa2) A3 Noiseterm·dom cannot be avoided (aa3, aa4 and aa5) A4 People (who make noiseterm·dom in inappropriate situations) need to be better qualified and educated (aa6 to aa9) A5 We are both the creators and the victims of noiseterm·dom (aa10 to aa12) A6 Noiseterm·dom increases as urbanization progresses (aa13) A7 Noiseterm·dom is often associated with life (aa14 and aa15) A8 Noiseterm·dom is a mixture of multiple and single (aa16 to aa19) A9 Noiseterm·dom is a mixture of absolute and relative (aa20 and aa21) A10 Noiseterm·dom is a mixture of subjective and objective (aa22 to aa24) A11 Noiseterm·dom is a mixture of the simple and the rich (aa25) A12 Noiseterm·dom is related to sound, people and environment (aa26 to aa29) A13 Criteria for noiseterm·dom have uncertainty (aa30 to aa32) A14 The assessment of noiseterm·dom changes according to the environment (aa33 to aa35) A15 People’s perception of noiseterm·dom is influenced by time (aa36 to aa40) A16 People’s perception of noiseterm·dom is influenced by spaceterm·dom (aa41 to aa57) A17 People’s perception of noiseterm·dom is influenced by visual information in spaceterm·dom (aa58) A18 People’s perception of noiseterm·dom is influenced by context (aa59 to aa62) A19 Psycho-acoustic parameter characteristics (aa63 to aa65) A20 Duration of the sound (aa66) A21 Sound information content (aa67 and aa68) A22 Degree of spatial matching (aa69 to aa77) A23 Noiseterm·dom as defined by physical disciplines (aa78 to aa82) A24 Noiseterm·dom is a concept for people, and different people have different ideas of what noiseterm·dom is, but most people have a certain consistency in defining noiseterm·dom (aa83 to aa85) A25 Human perception of noiseterm·dom is influenced by age (aa86) … AA1 Challenges AA2 Definition of noiseterm·dom AA3 Opportunities AA4 Action AA1 Challenges (1) Sounds a: Noiseterm·dom at all times b: Noiseterm·dom is everywhere c: Noiseterm·dom cannot be avoided (2) Human a: People (raising their voices in inappropriate scenarios) need to promote a sense of morality and public spirit b: We are both the creators and the victims of noiseterm·dom (3) Environment a: Noiseterm·dom is often associated with life b: Noiseterm·dom increases as urbanization progresses AA2 Definition of noiseterm·dom (1) Ontology of noiseterm·dom concept a: A mixture of the plural and the singular b: A mixture of the absolute and the relative c: A mixture of subjective and objective d: A mixture of simplicity and richness e: Related to sound, people and environment f: Uncertainty in the criteria for noiseterm·dom (2) The concept of noiseterm·dom from environment a: Time b: Spaceterm·dom c: Context (3) The Concept of noiseterm·dom from objectivity (sound) a: Psycho-acoustic parameter characteristics b: Noiseterm·dom as defined by physical disciplines c: Duration of the sound d: Sound information content (4) The concept of noiseterm·dom from subjectivity (human) a: Age b: Occupation c: Preference d: Habits e: Behavior f: State g: Environmental integration h: Psychological i: Physical j: sound expectationsterm·dom k: Needs l: Sensitivity m: Tolerance n: Five senses AA3 Opportunities (1) Sounds a: Noiseterm·dom should be seen in perspective b: Background noiseterm·dom has a protective buffering effect c: Steady noiseterm·dom helps people to fall asleep d: Noiseterm·dom has a reminding and warning effect e: Noiseterm·dom enhances fun f: Noiseterm·dom reduces feelings of isolation g: Noiseterm·dom carries memories and warmth, and carries a sense of life h: Noiseterm·dom has a calming effect on the emotions (2) Human a: People are adaptive to everyday noiseterm·dom b: People’s expectations of a quiet, natural and beautiful environment c: People’s concerns about noiseterm·dom are increasingly prominent (3) Technological development a: Advances in technology improved noiseterm·dom abatement strategies b: The active and widespread use of white noiseterm·dom in life AA4 Action (1) Sounds a: Classifying noiseterm·dom pertinently b: Controlling the loudness of sound c: Changing noiseterm·dom into positive sound in proper environment d: Evaluation of sound sources that can be easily identified (2) Human a: Shielding noiseterm·dom from the perspective of human vision b: Controlling noiseterm·dom from a policy rules perspective c: Limiting noiseterm·dom from the perspective of moral constraints d: Shielding noiseterm·dom from the perspective of human self-regulation and protection e: Focusing on noiseterm·dom from the perspective of vulnerable target groups f: Assessment of impressionable behaviors g: Characterization of susceptible states (3) Environment a: Reducing noiseterm·dom impact from the perspective of physical equipment and materials b: Reducing noiseterm·dom impact from the perspective of spatial planning and design c: Analysis of locations with high noiseterm·dom perception frequencies d: Evaluation of times of day when noiseterm·dom perception is high Initial data collection 894 items 527 items 67 items 4 items Generating the substantive theory Results The above-mentioned grounded theoryterm process yielded four main categories (Table 1 ): challenges (AA1), definitions of noiseterm·dom (AA2), opportunities (AA3), and action (AA4). This included internal factors, such as noiseterm·dom definitions (AA2), which provided a clear understanding of what noiseterm·dom is, and noise-related factors from the public perspective. External factors were also included, reflecting the challenges (AA1) and the opportunities (AA3) brought about by the changing times, leading to practical measures (AA4) for noise controlterm·key. Details of the links between the various categories are discussed later in this section.

The current noiseterm·dom challenges The main category AA1 challenges were divided into three perspectives: sound, human, and environment.

Sounds Noiseterm·dom is always present, as stated in aa1. “Noiseterm·dom is always present with humans. We are familiar with the word noiseterm·dom, which is ever present in our daily lives. Noiseterm·dom is often overlooked, yet it is present in every second of our daily lives…” Noiseterm·dom is ubiquitous, as stated in recording aa2. “Noiseterm·dom is everywhere, but to put it in another way, having noiseterm·dom in empty, silent places is pointless. In our daily lives, noiseterm·dom is practically ubiquitous…” Noiseterm·dom is inescapable. An interviewee in recording aa3 observed that “the world has two sides, and so does sound. I hate noiseterm·dom, yet I know I cannot escape it because I live in such a noisy environment. God has given us the sense of hearing, which is both a gift and a test. What should I do? I believe that noiseterm·dom is inevitable in today’s environment…”

Human People who raise their voices in inappropriate scenarios should promote a sense of morality and public spirit. In recording aa7, an interviewee mentioned, “I believe that most of the noiseterm·dom is caused by a lack of public spirit. …they do not care about the health and feelings of others.” Humans are creators and victims of noiseterm·dom. “I was once surprised to find that I had gone from being the one who hated noiseterm·dom to being a noisemaker. I had subconsciously become an emitter of noiseterm·dom.” As recorded in aa12.

Environment Noiseterm·dom level increase as urbanization progresses. In recording aa13, an interviewee stated that “With the progress of society, cities are developing. Industrial production, transportation, people’s daily lives, and various recreational activities in cities have all expanded, and environmental noiseterm·dom has become increasingly serious.” Noiseterm·dom is often associated with life. “Noisy environments are actually quite common in life. Therefore, noiseterm·dom is always with us, and it is relevant to our lives” (aa14 and aa15).

Definition of noiseterm·dom from a popular perspective The definition of noiseterm·dom AA2 is the core category and is divided into four parts: (1) the ontology of noiseterm·dom concept, (2) the concept of noiseterm·dom from the environment, (3) the concept of noiseterm·dom from objectivity (sound), and (4) the concept of noiseterm·dom from subjectivity (human). Perceiving sound as noiseterm·dom is a result of the complex interactions among several factors including sound, environment, and humans. See below for a detailed analysis.

Ontology of noiseterm·dom concept Noiseterm·dom exists both in the plural and singular forms. As described in the interviews, “The definition of a noisy environment is multifaceted. Noiseterm·dom is a very broad concept…Sources of noiseterm·dom are relatively diverse. When we think of noiseterm·dom, we first think of broad-defined sounds, which is a slightly one-sided definition. If only the abrupt and obvious are referred to as noiseterm·dom, then this is only the tip of the iceberg floating on the surface of the water” (aa16–aa19). Noiseterm·dom is a mixture of absolute and relative. As the interviewee in recordings, aa20 and aa21 suggested, “I think of noiseterm·dom as relative, rather than the usual sounds that are considered bad. No sound is absolute noiseterm·dom, and no sound is ever noiseterm·dom. In my opinion, noiseterm·dom can be divided into relative and absolute noiseterm·dom.” Noiseterm·dom is subjective and objective. As stated by the interviewee in recordings aa23 and aa24, “Noiseterm·dom is the product of a combination of the subjective and the objective. However, noiseterm·dom has multiple meanings, both physical and psychological.” Noiseterm·dom is a mixture of simplicity and richness. When asked what noiseterm·dom is, an interviewee was recorded (aa25) saying, “This is an interesting question, and each definition of noiseterm·dom has unique characteristics. The word noiseterm·dom is simple but extremely rich in meaning”. Noiseterm·dom is both obvious and evasive (Thompson, 2017 ). Noiseterm·dom is associated with sound, humans, and the environment. As mentioned by the interviewee in recording aa26, “The definition of noiseterm·dom by different subjects is labeled differently with time and scenario. The determining factors in whether a sound becomes noisesterm·dom are the person and the environment. Therefore, the definition and evaluation of noiseterm·dom can be somewhat ambiguous…” Uncertainty in noiseterm·dom criterion. The recording aa30 mentioned that “I think there is no rigid definition of noiseterm·dom. There is no definitive definition of noiseterm·dom in any aspect of life other than in physical terms”. It is, therefore, clear that the criteria for noiseterm·dom are influenced by a variety of complex factors, and that remain unclear.

The concept of noiseterm·dom from the environment Noiseterm·dom is related to the environment. In this study, the recordings aa34 and aa35 stated “Whether the same sound can be considered noiseterm·dom is highly dependent on the environment in which it occurs. The assessment of noiseterm·dom changes according to the environment”. This includes time, spaceterm·dom, and context. Perceiving sound as noiseterm·dom is a result of a complex interaction of factors, including the environment. The perception of noiseterm·dom in the environment is associated with the time factor. Interviewee (recording aa37) stated, “If a faint sound that is not noticeable during the day is heard before going to sleep, it is amplified many times …” In particular, the interviewee (recording aa36) added, “During holidays, there is a lot of activity in crowded pedestrian streets, shopping malls, and restaurants, and having a lively atmosphere is acceptable.” The perception of noiseterm·dom is influenced by the spaceterm·dom factor in the environment. As described by the interviewee in recording aa42, “There is always Russian music playing on Central Avenue… enhancing the experience of visiting the city. By contrast, if Russian-inspired music is played in the study rooms, there is no doubt that even the most beautiful music becomes noiseterm·dom.” The concept of spaceterm·dom can be defined as what an individual perceives and interacts with objectively through the connection that he or she forms with the area; each of the above showed specific responses to spaceterm·dom based on their own and potential entrants (Akyildiz, 2020 ). The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to the context factor in the environment. People’s perception is determined by the actual context (Orhan and Yilmazer, 2021 ). For instance, sound becomes music when placed within an appropriate context (Duffy, 2009 ). The interviewee in recording aa60-aa61 made a comparable point, “Some similar sounds affect me differently in different situations. We cannot conclude whether a sound is noiseterm·dom or not by taking it out of its specific context”. The shape of reference that determines perception is determined by the actual stimulus context (Schulte-Fortkamp et al., 2007 ).

The concept of noiseterm·dom from objectivity (sound) It was found that there are five components of noiseterm·dom from objectivity (sound) perception: psycho-acoustic parameters of sound, noiseterm·dom as defined by the physical discipline, duration of the sound, and sound information content. Perceiving sound as noiseterm·dom is a result of a complex, dynamic process that includes sound. Noiseterm·dom has been shown to be related to the psycho-acoustic characteristics of sound, which include roughness, as the interviewee in recording aa63 mentioned, “Noiseterm·dom is a noisy and confusing sound. Noiseterm·dom is produced when a variety of different dominant sounds (three or more) are present in a spaceterm·dom at the same time for the person hearing the sound”. Pitch strength. The aa64 recording that: “Noiseterm·dom is… uncommon frequency sounds that are unattractive background sounds that are chaotic and floating. What I think of as noiseterm·dom is, on the one hand, a very unstable sound, with highs and lows”. For loudness, the interviewee (recording aa65) stated that, “People still accept sounds at different decibel levels to a similar degree, with sounds above 70 dB(A) generally considered to be noiseterm·dom”. As noiseterm·dom exposure increases (via longer exposure and/or higher sound levels), the risk for cochlear injury and hearing loss increases (Le Prell et al., 2020 ). As mentioned in the interview: “Noiseterm·dom can cause physical discomfort and illness in our bodies. Noiseterm·dom levels above 90 dB(A) can definitely damage a person’s hearing. (aa111 and aa113)”. In terms of sharpness, the interviewee in recording aa66 said, “I used to dislike the upper mathematics teacher because her voice was already sharp …which was very harsh”. Noiseterm·dom as defined by physical disciplines. The recording aa78–aa82 stated that; “I learned that noiseterm·dom, as defined in physics, includes resonance at ultra-high frequencies, all irregular signals, irregular vibrations, decibels above a certain level, and irregular sound waves.” The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to the duration of a sound. According to the interviewee in recording aa67, it is clear that “noiseterm·dom is usually continuous, persistent, and compels people to care about it, which has to do with the duration of the sound”. For example, “If the person next to you in the library just says something, it is quite acceptable, but if it is loud all the time, he risks drawing sideway glances from the whole library, and long and continuous noiseterm·dom can be more offensive and uncomfortable.” Interviewees in recordings aa68 and aa69 stated that the perception of noiseterm·dom is related to the sound information content: “…sounds are more or less linked to the information behind them. For example, when we disagree with the speech of a person… then their voice can be considered noiseterm·dom to us”. “The buzzing of a mosquito, for example, is neither loud nor harsh, yet it can cause strong negative emotions because the person subjectively associates the buzzing with a mosquito bite.” Certain sounds such as those of mosquitoes and some disapproving words, can be annoying.

The concept of noiseterm·dom from subjectivity (human) Research evidence has linked noiseterm·dom to people. As stated in the interviews (aa83–aa85): “noiseterm·dom is a concept for people. Only in human society does noiseterm·dom exist. However, despite this subjectivity, most people have a consistent definition of a noisy environment. Even if it is the same sound in the same environment, different people will have different answers as to whether it is noiseterm·dom or not”. Age, occupation, preferences, habits, behavior, status, environmental integration, psychology, sound expectationsterm·dom, needs, sensitivities, tolerances, and five senses have all been linked to defining noiseterm·dom. Therefore, perceiving sound as noiseterm·dom is the result of a complex, dynamic process that includes humans. As described through the interviews (aa86), the perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s age; most people felt that the older they got, the less they accepted noiseterm·dom and the more strongly they felt it. “I feel that as I get older, I become more resistant to noiseterm·dom, the interviewer says. Before I treated noiseterm·dom as just a bit annoying, but it was acceptable. Now I get very angry when I hear noiseterm·dom…My grandparents, for example, are older and prefer a quieter environment…” This is because ageing is associated with increased sensitivity to noiseterm·dom (Du, 2019 ). The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s occupation. Different professions pay different attention to and have different feelings about noiseterm·dom, as described in (aa88): “Concern about noiseterm·dom is higher than the general population due to occupational attributes (relevant researchers)”. “Those who work in quiet indoor offices, such as programmers, are prone to the effects of harsh sounds and may be more sensitive to noiseterm·dom.” Noiseterm·dom interferes with attention and affects performance on cognitive tasks (Kjellberg et al., 1997 ; Moradi et al., 2019 ). Therefore, noise controlterm·key in offices where mental work is the focus is particularly important. In addition, excessive noiseterm·dom exposure at work may lead to auditory health effects, such as occupational noise-induced hearing loss (Zainal Abidin et al. 2018 ). At the same time, exposure to occupational noiseterm·dom, such as in the construction industry, weakens noise sensitivityterm·key and perception of noiseterm·dom effects and deserves our attention (Chong et al., 2022 ). The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s preference. As stated in the interview (aa91), “When I drag my mother to rock concerts, she complains about the noiseterm·dom. It’s loud and she doesn’t like it. For me, it’s superb and I really like it”. Soundscapeterm·dom evaluation is part of the study of sensory esthetics, and all esthetic issues involve preference. Esthetics also includes the ability to discern or judge. People evaluate the same environment differently and react differently as a result of their individual preferences (YangpersName and KangpersName, 2005 ). The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s habits. For example, in the interview (aa105) it was stated that “Some people are taught not to make noiseterm·dom when they eat and grow up with an aversion to the sound of their mouths, which is obviously noiseterm·dom to them, but for other groups who believe that the sound of eating means I am eating well, the sound of their mouths during eating is physically and emotionally pleasing”. The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s behavior. As stated in the interview (aa135), “The sensitivity to noiseterm·dom varies with what we are doing, and the definition of noiseterm·dom should be different for different behaviors”. For example, interview (aa170) mentions that “when we are studying or resting, all sounds that can be clearly heard, whether they are pleasant or not, are considered noiseterm·dom… while when we are exercising, we often find the natural ambient sound not loud enough, or even like to play some punk rock music with strong drums and dense rhythms at a high volume”. The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s mental state. As described in the interview (aa173), “It has been observed that people tend to ignore distracting noisesterm·dom when they are concentrating on a certain state… When a person is initially in an office state, he can easily feel annoyed and dissatisfied because of the distracting noisesterm·dom around him, and as he gradually immerses himself in his work, he can no longer easily feel the presence of these noisesterm·dom.” The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s environmental integration. The environment is highly integrated and less influenced by noiseterm·dom. When one is involved in the current environment, he/she ignores the surrounding noiseterm·dom, whereas one is not involved in the current environment, the opposite feeling arises. For example, as described in the interview (aa199 and aa214): “In a public spaceterm·dom, a group of people talking to each other and a person doing their own thing, to the person talking their conversation is nothing, to the other person doing their own thing their conversation is noiseterm·dom. When I am interacting with my friends, I don’t find the noiseterm·dom of people talking and laughing with me at all”. We are both the emitter and the victim of noiseterm·dom. Being the source of noiseterm·dom ourselves, we often ignore the noiseterm·dom we produce. However, we are disturbed by the noiseterm·dom produced by others. The perception of noiseterm·dom has been linked to a person’s psychological state. Noiseterm·dom and psychology interact, and when psychological conditions are poor, one becomes more critical of sound and more sensitive to noiseterm·dom. For example, “when I am irritable and unhappy, I am more critical of my surroundings and even sounds that I would not normally pay much attention to become noiseterm·dom… In everyday life…whether it is judged as noiseterm·dom or not often depends on the subjective state of mind” (aa130 and aa132). Noiseterm·dom and psychology interact and may form a vicious circle. As described in the interview (aa134), “these sounds that become more emotionally distressing the more we care, lead to a more depressed mood and the more noiseterm·dom we hear, which then creates an emotionally vicious circle”. Emotion, a key psychological antecedent of cognition, can frequently influence or even overpower our right conclusions (YangpersName et al., 2018 ). Humans use emotion processing as the primary channel for shaping ideas and decisions (DANIEL and Review, 2003 ). The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s physical condition. For example. “Being unwell and the sound of your roommates talking can make you feel uncomfortable” (aa108). When physiological conditions are poor, the perception of noiseterm·dom and discomfort increases. This may be because people are more vulnerable when they are physically uncomfortable which makes them more susceptible to noiseterm·dom disturbance compared to healthy individuals. Thus, there is a need to focus more on the physical discomfort and to actively avoid noiseterm·dom interference. The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s sound expectationsterm·dom. People expect more sound at certain times and occasions and when they are engaged in certain behaviors. As mentioned in the interviews (aa194–aa197), “when studying in the library and needing a quiet environment, the expectation at this time is that the sound is quiet, but the music that I normally enjoy listening to becomes noiseterm·dom because it does not match the environment I need at the moment”. Sound expectationterm·dom is part of a framework of cognition and emotion when perceiving soundscapeterm·dom contexts. Expectation is related to an individual’s experiences and encompasses factors such as personal beliefs, perspective, ideals, values, emotions, and mental models. Expectations strongly influence perception. The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s needs, as described in the interview (aa146 and aa147), “When a sound does not satisfy my needs, I feel that the sound is noiseterm·dom. Like myself, I like to listen to songs when I am going to study. I do not really understand why I concentrate more when I am listening to a song when it is obviously louder than my classmates’ voices. Maybe it’s psychological, or maybe the songs are what I want subjectively”. The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s sensitivity, as described in the interview (aa182 and aa189), “I know people who are quite sensitive to sound and can’t sleep at the slightest noiseterm·dom, and others who can sleep even when thunder rolls through the sky. People’s sensitivity to noiseterm·dom also varies from person to person…”The perceived annoyance of noiseterm·dom has a great difference among individuals with different noiseterm·dom sensitivities (Di et al., 2022 ). Noise-sensitive individuals are more susceptible to noise-induced annoyances (Miedema and Vos, 1999 ). The perception of noiseterm·dom is related to a person’s tolerance. People’s noiseterm·dom tolerance levels vary, as stated in the interview (aa190): “I think everyone has a different level of tolerance and acceptance of noiseterm·dom, which I personally believe is inextricably linked to one’s occupation, physiological performance, living environment, habits and personality”. As stated in the interview (aa190), “noiseterm·dom should have different standards and tolerances for different people. I have a higher tolerance for the noiseterm·dom created by people I know and am close to, and a lower tolerance for people I don’t know or don’t like”. The perception of noiseterm·dom is associated with a person’s five senses. As described in the interview (aa152), “to be judged in conjunction with sight, taste, touch and smell, specific to the problem”. The assertion “we unknowingly can use all senses information to assess sounds” emphasizes the influence of other sense sensations on sound perception. In addition, ‘Audio–visual interaction can significantly influence the outcome of the definition of quiet areas (Li and Lau, 2020 )”. Greater attention to the visual landscape can lead to reduced hearing perception and vice versa (Southworth, 1969 ). Similarly, the presence of fragrance enhances people’s evaluation of traffic noiseterm·key and improves auditory and olfactory satisfaction, demonstrating the interaction between hearing and smell (Ba and KangpersName, 2019a ). Besides, there is a masking effect between the auditory and olfactory senses (Ba and KangpersName, 2019b ). Different types of background sounds can influence taste and flavor perception. In addition, background noiseterm·dom affects sensitivity to taste perception (Rahne et al., 2018 ). For instance, higher-pitched background music can elicit stronger associations with the sweetness dimension, thereby increasing the perception of sweetness (Stafford et al., 2012 ). Pleasant sound and audio-visual stimuli can enhance the taste of food (Kantono et al., 2016a , 2016b ). On the other hand, temperature sensation is traditionally regarded as a highly discriminative tactile capacity allied to the somatosensory system (Craig, 2009 ). In real life, thermal and acoustic environments have an important influence on the subjective and physiological responses of people, which together affect their comfort (Guan et al., 2020b ). Noiseterm·dom does not affect thermal sensation, but affects thermal comfort, while temperature affects acoustic sensation (Nagano and Horikoshi, 2005 ; YangpersName and Moon, 2018 ). Noiseterm·dom should be controlled in a high-temperature environment to ensure comfort (Guan et al., 2020a ).

The noiseterm·dom opportunity along with time change The main category AA3 Opportunities was divided into three viewpoints, i.e., sound, human, and technological development.

Sound (1) Noiseterm·dom should be viewed in context: “Noiseterm·dom is not always harmful. I believe it should be viewed in a dialectical way. For instance, white noiseterm·dom, which is beneficial, should not be rejected, but tolerated” (aa216 and aa217). In general, noiseterm·dom is harmful since it renders organisms less flexible and potentially causes gene mutation. Nonetheless, accumulating evidence suggests that noiseterm·dom helps in stress response, metabolic activity, development, cell cycle, circadian rhythms, and aging, as well as regulates cellular functions (Zhou et al., 2022 ).

(2) Background noiseterm·dom is a protective buffer: According to the interviews (aa299), “…just as we are unaccustomed to a 0 dB environment, it is frightening to be in a condition of absolute silence. If in a relatively quiet environment, a loud noiseterm·dom is suddenly generated… it is easy to be frightened when you are unprepared. This is when the noisy environment that we normally take for granted becomes a kind of protection for us again”. All the disturbing sounds in the environment can be muffled by monotonous sounds, including white noiseterm·dom, which is a combination of constant sound frequency variations within the environment (Umbas et al., 2021 ).

(3) Noiseterm·dom induces sleep: As described in the interview (aa23), “…when the snow-plows were roaring in the winter evenings, I was undisturbed by the sounds because they were stable. On the contrary, it even helps me sleep very much.” This is because humans easily get used to steady noiseterm·dom or repetitive monotonous noiseterm·dom. Steady noiseterm·dom may induce sleep, whereas intermittent noiseterm·dom does not (Suzuki et al., 1991 ).

(4) Noiseterm·dom acts as a reminder and a warning: As described in interviews (aa233 and aa234), “…The air-raid siren on China’s September 18 anniversary was deliberately special, attention-grabbing, and slightly uncomfortable sound… aimed striking the heart of the people, awakening inner emotions, warning and spurring the present generation not to forget the war.” This shows that although noiseterm·dom evokes discomfort, it generates emotions within people.

(5) Noiseterm·dom elicits fun: “Within reasonably normal limits, noiseterm·dom is interesting” (aa237). For example, the noiseterm·dom was used as an artistic and esthetic resource, a source of music, and to create new sound sensations in the 20th and 21st centuries (Thompson, 2017 ).

(6) Noiseterm·dom reduces feelings of isolation: “…late at night…the sound of cars whizzing by on the road is the only reason I don’t feel alone…” (aa235 and aa236). Silent individuals feel uncomfortable. Thus, the concept of quiet zones, currently emphasized, warrants further exploration and refinement. This is because a good acoustic environment is not defined by the quiet standard alone.

(7) Noiseterm·dom transports memories, warmth, and a sense of life: A soundscapeterm·dom positively or negatively affects the way of life. Soundscapesterm·dom attempt to recreate historical scenes (Akyildiz, 2020 ). As part of a soundscapeterm·dom, noiseterm·dom carries memories and warmth, with a sense of passionate living. As stated in interviews (aa222 and aa223), “Perhaps at home, my mother’s nagging is something I wish would go away, but after leaving home… I wish I could hear her once more telling me to get up in the morning and bring my homework to school…” Noiseterm·dom brings a sense of life noticeable at certain times. For instance, during the new crown epidemic and festive season, too much silence brought a stronger sense of loneliness, whereas noiseterm·dom reflects a sense of life and joy. Interview (aa220 and aa221) states: “Every New Year’s Eve, the noiseterm·dom market and roar of firecrackers bring joy and warmth. The school was closed due to COVID-19… and I was often unable to leave the school for long periods, and whenever I was unblocked to go to the food market outside the school…I didn’t feel the noiseterm·dom, I just felt a sense of hope and enthusiasm for life”.

(8) Noiseterm·dom has an emotionally calming effect: Interviews (aa230 and aa231) revealed that white and pink noiseterm·dom from nature calms. The interviews were as follows: “Some white noiseterm·dom, which is the sound of nature, like the wind, rain, birdsong, and so on, is an ambient sound for us, and such sounds make us feel settled.”

Human (1) People adjust to daily noiseterm·dom: As mentioned in the interview (aa238): “Noiseterm·dom pollution is a daily occurrence and most people do not see it as a problem; most of the noiseterm·dom we hear every day is related to everyday activities, so people are used to it.” Although most people are habitually exposed to noiseterm·dom, the habituation extent varies among individuals (Basner et al., 2014 ).

(2) People expect a quiet, natural, and beautiful environment: As stated in the interview: “The demands on the quality of the surrounding environment will also be more demanding… Nowadays, people are increasingly looking for “quiet”. There has always been a picture of birds and flowers, paths in the fields, two or three friends and a glass of wine…” (aa239–aa244). Similarly, people demand soundscapesterm·dom having simple sound developments with messages of peace and joy (LiupersName and KangpersName, 2016 ).

(3) The concerns about noiseterm·dom are increasingly prominent: As the recording states: “The noiseterm·dom problem has become more and more serious in recent years and more and more people are paying attention to it. Noiseterm·dom pollution can be harmful and needs to be taken seriously” (aa247–aa249). There is a growing concern for environmental quality, specifically noiseterm·dom and air issues (Chiarini et al., 2020 ). Air issues have received a lot of attention in recent years; however, noiseterm·dom issues have been neglected (TheLancet, 2014 ).

Technological development (1) From an environmental standpoint, technological developments have reduced noiseterm·dom pollution. Interview (aa250) states that “… I think noiseterm·dom can be dissipated. But the prerequisites for this would be very many. For example, it would require modern technology to develop to a point where invisible earplugs could be invented with 100% noiseterm·dom dissipation…” (2) Furthermore, active and widespread use of white noiseterm·dom provides new ideas for the rational use of noiseterm·dom. The interviews (aa251–aa253) state that “…white noiseterm·dom is noiseterm·dom whose power spectral density is constant throughout the frequency domain. For example, some learning apps have a ‘white noiseterm·dom background to help people focus better.” Several studies have investigated devices producing white noiseterm·dom to offset and minimize the effects of environmental noiseterm·dom in clinical and laboratory settings. Since white noiseterm·dom is actively used in everyday life, several studies have focused on the impact of white noiseterm·dom on humans. Consequently, the understanding of white noiseterm·dom in the physical sense and white noiseterm·dom by the general public is not similar. Therefore, there is a need to investigate a definition of white noiseterm·dom based on the general public.

Noiseterm·dom problem-solving measures The main category AA4 Action was divided into three viewpoints, i.e., sound, human, and environment.

Sounds (1) Noiseterm·dom classification should be specific: As stated in the interview (aa255), “I believe that the classification of noiseterm·dom should be more focused. The criteria for judging noiseterm·dom today are uncertain…” Despite being unpopular, noiseterm·dom should be classified and controlled from a qualitative perspective in the future (Schafer, 1996 ).

(2) The loudness of the sound can be controlled: As stated in the interview (aa254): “…after a certain dB(A), noiseterm·dom has an adverse effect on what we are doing…”. From a quantitative standpoint, controlling sound decibels is easy (Schafer, 1996 ). Based on the noiseterm·dom source, the WHO recommends different control recommendations for environmental noiseterm·dom thresholds. For instance, noiseterm·dom levels generated by road traffic should reduce to below 53 dB L den ; by railway traffic below 54 dB L de; by aircraft to below 45 dB L den . Noiseterm·dom levels from wind turbines should be reduced to below 45 dB L den , and the annual average noiseterm·dom from all recreational noiseterm·dom sources combined should be reduced to 70 dB L Aeq,24h . Otherwise, it may have negative effects on health (WHO, 2018 ).

(3) Noiseterm·dom can be converted into positive sound in the right environment: As stated in the interview (aa256), “The most beautiful sounds can be achieved if they occur in the right environment”. The design of the ambient sound improves the attractiveness of a venue. For instance, laughter in a library is an inappropriate negative sound, but laughter in an amusement park or at a party is a positive sound driving the atmosphere.

(4) Sound sources easily identified as noiseterm·dom: The interview content (A56) of the main response noiseterm·dom sources was extracted and screened (Selection criteria are frequency ≥ 5 times) (Table 2 ). Traffic noiseterm·key is most likely identified as a sound source and perceived when studying (7 times). Traffic noiseterm·key occurs in the street, where people usually perceive traffic noiseterm·key including vehicle sirens (16 times) and vehicle moving sounds (8 times). Besides, construction sound is usually felt at home (9 times), primarily at building sites (17 times) and homes (12 times). Traffic noiseterm·key (41 times) and construction sound (36 times) are mentioned more than 30 times and require our attention. Details of the frequency, time, and location of the perceived sound sources are tabulated below. Based on the standpoint of sound sources, knowing the sound sources that can be considered noiseterm·dom allows more targeted prevention and control measures. Table 2 Sound sources easily identified as noiseterm·dom. Sound source Number Behavior and state Place Details Traffic noiseterm·key 41 When studying (7) Street (6) Vehicle sirens (16) Vehicle moving sound (8) Construction sound 36 Staying at home (9) Building site (17) Home (12) Machinery 21 Staying at home (11) Home (11) Conversation 20 When sleeping (8) Talking in a low voice (5) Music 16 Film and television broadcasting 9 TV sound (5) Animal sounds 9 Dog barking (7) Shouting 8 Fingernails scratching on the blackboard 5 During a lesson (5) Classroom (5) Sounds of playing computer games 5 Sounds of children playing 5 Home (5) Human (1) Shielding noiseterm·dom from the perspective of human vision: As stated in the interview (aa60), “…I find it easier to concentrate when I am visually invisible to the source of the noiseterm·dom… This has inspired me to design spacesterm·dom in the future in such a way as to reduce the impact of noiseterm·dom on people by increasing visual concealment or adding partitions”. Acoustic and visual (and other) components interact in human perception (Brown et al., 2011 ). Masking the sound source reduces loudness perception and noise annoyanceterm·key (Masullo et al., 2021 ). Also, the use of color leads to different perceptions of sound loudness (Menzel et al., 2008 ).

(2) Controlling noise controlterm·key from the perspective of policy: From the perspective of noise controlterm·key, policies should be developed to control the loudness of sound, the time and place where the noiseterm·dom is emitted, and noise-generating behavior. As mentioned in the interviews (aa390, aa391, aa394, aa395), “The sound of car horns is prohibited. As well as limiting the working hours of construction sites. I think it is necessary to set strict noise controlterm·key levels around specific buildings…to introduce regulations for this….set strict decibel levels…”

(3) Limiting noiseterm·dom based on moral constraints: As shown in the recordings (aa401), “I think we should be more tolerant and also abide by the rules of public places”. Morality and its role in societal life have been critical to human thought history thought since its beginnings. It is ranked first in Aristotle’s hierarchy of virtues as a good to which every human being must aspire (Mb et al., 2021 ).

(4) On human self-regulation and protection, it is possible to shield oneself from the noiseterm·dom by negotiating with its source: For example, as stated in the interview (aa376): “negotiate with your neighbor to turn down the volume of the TV.” Protect your ears from noiseterm·dom through simple means, “Silicone earplugs are available and these are simple and practical means to provide warning and protection when noiseterm·dom is coming” (aa381). This is because noiseterm·dom discomfort triggers the body’s defense mechanisms, hence prompting people to adopt appropriate protective behaviors to resist additional harm from noiseterm·dom (Park et al., 2018 ; Tinoco et al., 2019 ).

(5) Focus on vulnerable target groups and extract and screen interviews (A62) primarily responsive to them (Selection criteria are frequency ≥5 times): This is also aimed at determining the frequency of vulnerable behaviors in descending order: Older people (15 times); Students (14 times); Patients (11 times); People concentrating on their studies and work (11 times) High sensitive People (10 times); People with psycho-social problems (10 times); Researchers (9 times); People with a high demand for a quiet environment (9 times); People with Poor sleep quality (7 times); Infants and young children (7 times); People needing rest (5 times); Preoccupied people (5 times); Brain workers (5 times) (Fig. 5a ). Thus, there is a need to focus on noise-sensitive people. Fig. 5 Quantification of word frequency statistics. a Vulnerable target groups, b Vulnerable behaviors, c Vulnerable states, d Locations of high noiseterm·dom perception frequencies, and e Times of high noiseterm·dom perception frequencies.

(6) Vulnerable behavior: Focusing on these vulnerable behaviors, the interview content (A63), which primarily responds to the behavior, was extracted and screened (Selection criteria are frequency ≥5 times) to arrive at the most vulnerable behaviors in descending order of frequency: working (19 times), studying (14 times), resting (14 times), sleeping (8 times), thinking (8 times) and hearing sounds (8 times) (Fig. 5b ). Locations, where these behaviors occur, should be an area of focus when characterizing noisesterm·dom.

(7) Vulnerable states: The interview content (A64) primarily responding to the person’s state was extracted and screened (Selection criteria are frequency ≥5 times) to establish the susceptible states, i.e., in a bad mood (15 times) and during concentration (6 times) (Fig. 5c ). Therefore, it is important to protect oneself from the intrusion of noiseterm·dom when in these moods or highly concentrated states.

Environment (1) Reducing noiseterm·dom impact based on spatial planning and design: As demonstrated in the recording (aa483), “…For example, the location of hospital buildings, the layout of ward buildings, outpatient buildings and other departmental rooms, the design of doors and windows, the choice of interior and exterior building materials, and the planting of surrounding vegetation”.

(2) Reducing noiseterm·dom impact according to the physical equipment and materials: As demonstrated in the recordings (aa490, aa491, aa493, aa494), “We need measures that prevent harmful noiseterm·dom, including retrofitting roads with soundproof panels. Measures to control these noisesterm·dom often include the installation of silencers on cars…” Car silencers reduce noiseterm·dom right at the source. Noiseterm·dom barriers, acoustic glass, and other sound-absorbing materials are passive methods using physical structures and affect sound waves before they enter the interior of the building. These are classical, simple, and easy-to-use methods (Lam et al., 2021 ).

(3) Locations with high noiseterm·dom perception frequencies: The interview content (A67) was extracted from locations primarily responding to noiseterm·dom perceptions and filtered (Selection criteria are frequency ≥5 times) to show exact locations with the highest frequency of noiseterm·dom perceptions in order: traffic streets (8 times), homes (7 times), factories (5 times), quiet places (5 times) and locations where renovation work is taking place (5 times) (Fig. 5d ). This correlates somewhat with the susceptible behaviors and states derived above, because of fixed locations that limit human behavior.

(4) Time of day with high noiseterm·dom perception: The time points were extracted from the interview content (A68) mainly responding to the time of noiseterm·dom perception and filtered (Selection criteria are frequency ≥5 times) to establish the time of night (6 times) with the highest frequency of noiseterm·dom perception (Fig. 5e ). This may be because the night is considered resting time, and people are sensitive to noiseterm·dom and have higher requirements for quiet environments.

Discussion To understand our findings, three key points must be emphasized; the details are as follows: What is the relationship between different categories? What is the impact of this study on human perception of noiseterm·dom? What is the source of inspiration for us in noiseterm·dom study from human perception?

The relationship between the four categories The first topic is the relationship between different categories, as shown in Fig. 6 , ranging from challenges to measures: Challenges : The three components i.e., sound, human, and environment (social/physical) demonstrate the importance of the noiseterm·dom problem and its challenges as an urgent issue that must be addressed. Notably, noiseterm·dom is present at all times, it is everywhere, and it cannot be avoided. Noiseterm·dom definition : The definition of noiseterm·dom includes four components, i.e., noiseterm·dom concept, noiseterm·dom from environment perception, noiseterm·dom from objectivity (sound) perception, and noiseterm·dom from subjectivity (human) perception. The overarching concept of noiseterm·dom acts on the three components i.e., human, sound, and environment. Sound and humans are in an interactive relationship; both exist in and interact with their surroundings. Opportunities : The advantages of noiseterm·dom based on current developments, as well as environmental changes caused by changes in human thinking and technology. Considering the positive effects of noiseterm·dom, noiseterm·dom should be viewed from the following perspective: noiseterm·dom carries memories and warmth, and a sense of life; background noiseterm·dom has a buffering effect to protect people from sudden loud sounds; noiseterm·dom has a calming effect on the emotions; steady noiseterm·dom helps people fall asleep; noiseterm·dom has a reminding and warning effect, noiseterm·dom reduces feelings of isolation; noiseterm·dom enhances the fun. The current social environment opportunities and technological developments enable noiseterm·dom abatement, as well as the active and widespread use of white noiseterm·dom in daily life. Action : Plans and measures for noiseterm·dom are proposed based on sound, human perception, and the environment, including controlling the loudness of the sounise transformation into positive sound in the right environment; shielding noiseterm·dom based on human self-regulation and protection; focusing on noiseterm·dom from based on vulnerable target groups, noise controlterm·key from the perspective of policy rules; shielding noiseterm·dom according to human vision; limiting noiseterm·dom according to moral constraints; reducing noiseterm·dom impact based on spatial planning and design; reducing noiseterm·dom impact from according to the physical equipment and materials. Fig. 6 The structural links between the categories.

The effect of noiseterm·dom on human perception As shown in Fig. 7 , this focused on the progression from noise controlterm·key to soundscapeterm·dom definition, then to the application with SSIDterm. Figure 7 shows the concept axis (from concept to practice). The article examines noiseterm·dom literature, from the following disciplines: Environmental Science and Ecology, Psychology, Neuroscience and Neurology, Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Application, Linguistic and Public, and Environmental and Occupational Health. A grounded theoryterm approach expands the definition of noiseterm·dom in six disciplines at the level of human consciousness. Ontology, object, subject, and environment are the four dimensions of noiseterm·dom. In this view, opportunities and measures of noiseterm·dom are explained in three dimensions, i.e., sound, human, and environment (physical/social). Eventually, there is integration and use with SSIDterm. Fig. 7 From “noise controlterm·key” to “soundscapeterm·dom” to SSIDterm.

Figure 7 (bottom part) shows the timeline (from 1960 when soundscapesterm·dom were proposed, to 2019 when SSIDterm was proposed). First, we looked into noiseterm·dom and discovered similarities with soundscapeterm·dom definition, both of which refer to the environment and people. The work of a musician and composer revolves around the relationship between the ear, humans, sound environments, and society. Schafer (in the late 1960s) is the pioneer of the soundscapeterm·dom. (Schafer, 1996 ). Subsequently, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines this acoustic advancement with the ISO/FDIS 12913-1 2014. A soundscapeterm·dom is “the acoustic environment as perceived, experienced, and/or understood by a person or people in context.” Therefore, soundscapeterm·dom research is a fundamental shift in the field of sound evaluation (KangpersName and Schulte-Fortkamp, 2015 ). Human perception of the acoustic environment should be in the soundscapeterm·dom. In ISO/TS 12913-3: Version 1 (2019-12) noiseterm·dom is mentioned in the following areas. “Based on the tradition of environmental noiseterm·dom studies, the term ‘annoying’ is used instead of ‘unpleasant’. According to environmental noiseterm·dom assessment, noiseterm·dom mappings are used to evaluate the noiseterm·dom effects on humans. The auditory system detects small differences based on short-term memory, hence individuals rely more on characteristic noiseterm·dom features and patterns” (Standardization IOf, 2014 ). The above passage on noiseterm·dom from ISO/TS 12913-3: First edition (2019-12) only addresses, noiseterm·dom maps, and sound levels, but ignores the modeling, description, and definition of human perception of noiseterm·dom. Jian KANGpersName et al. ( 2019 ) proposed the Soundscapeterm·dom Index which optimizes the acoustic environment, hence promoting research on the soundscapeterm·dom. The “Soundscape Indicesterm·key” (SSIDterm) i.e. SSIDterm may accurately describe levels of human comfort by considering psychological, (psycho) acoustical, neural and physiological, and contextual factors. As a result, SSIDterm integrates alongside (and eventually replaces) sound level metrics in existing (international) regulations, shifting the focus away from sound insulation toward a more comprehensive view (KangpersName et al., 2019 ). The soundscapeterm·dom approach and SSIDterm help in understanding the process of perceiving the acoustic environment in the human environment and improving sound quality in the human environment.

In conclusion, our findings expound on the definition of soundscapeterm·dom by refining the concept of noiseterm·dom at the level of human consciousness and providing a qualitative research direction to improve the ISO standard.

Inspiration for investigating noiseterm·dom from a human perception perspective The importance of studying noiseterm·dom from a human perception is that noiseterm·dom not only have a negative effect, but also a positive effect in some cases. Therefore, it is important not to completely remove it but exploit its positive effects in appropriate situations. This view coincides with the soundscapeterm·dom approach, which addresses issues related to the sound environment from a sound perspective, in which sound is not treated as waste but as a resource (KangpersName, 2019 ). This study widens the definition of noiseterm·dom at the human cognitive level, thus improving the definition of noiseterm·dom.

Noiseterm·dom not only affects several of people’s lives in terms of psychological, physiological, and behavioral aspects in addition to studies, recreation, and rest. People’s subjective perception of sound is the soundscapeterm·dom, and perception contains both positive and negative components. Generally, the negative part of soundscapeterm·dom is considered noiseterm·dom, which is dependent on the listener’s experience of the sound and the environment. Schafer believed that the soundscapeterm·dom can demonstrate a society’s illness or well-being. A soundscapeterm·dom that is ordered and peaceful reflects a society that is ordered and harmonious, whereas a soundscapeterm·dom that is disordered and discordant causes social disorder and disharmony (Schafer, 1996 ; Thompson, 2017 ). This study shows that it is important to recognize the positive effects of noiseterm·dom, or how they can be applied in scientific studies. Thompson suggested that noiseterm·dom can and does sometimes have a beneficial effect and the negative effects of noiseterm·dom are often exaggerated (Thompson, 2017 ). Our understanding of noiseterm·dom in terms of human perception and utilization of a broader soundscapeterm·dom approach can help move from (traditional) noise controlterm·key to designing acoustic environments that will improve environmental quality.

Conclusion The study studied the concept of noiseterm·dom from the human perception. Historical noiseterm·dom complaints were reviewed by analyzing studies on noiseterm·dom (VOSviewer) and relevant bills. Systematic qualitative analysis of user-centered noiseterm·dom and grounded theoryterm interview methods were adopted. In addition, the basic understanding of noiseterm·dom from the perspective of the public was explored to uncover all possible understanding of noiseterm·dom from the user’s point of view. Our results present a comprehensive understanding of the noiseterm·dom environment, and highlights the importance of examining noiseterm·dom from the perspective of the public, which will ensure effective control of noiseterm·dom. Four categories are identified in this study : Challenges, the definition of noiseterm·dom, opportunities and action. By analyzing the external factors of noiseterm·dom: challenges and opportunities, as well as internal factors: definitions of noiseterm·dom, action, an implementable strategy model for noise controlterm·key was established from a public perspective. Challenges : As urbanization progresses, noiseterm·dom levels increase, and we are all creators and victims of noiseterm·dom. Noiseterm·dom is everywhere, every time and thus unavoidable. Therefore, it is important to understand how people perceive the noiseterm·dom to develop effective noise controlterm·key strategies. Definition of noiseterm·dom : Perceiving sound as noiseterm·dom is a result of a complex and dynamic process which include sound, the environment, and humans. The environmental aspects include time, spaceterm·dom, and context. The sound aspect includes duration of the sound, content of the sound message and other factors. On the other hand, the human aspect of noiseterm·dom includes factors such as age, occupation, tolerance, and five senses. Opportunities : Noiseterm·dom not only have negative effects, but also positive effects in specific situations, which are related to how people perceive sound in their environment. The positive effects of noiseterm·dom include carrying memories and warmth, providing a sense of life, providing a buffering effect that protects people from harmful effects of sudden loud sounds, calming emotions, reminding, and warning people, as well as reducing feelings of isolation. On the human side, although people are adapting to noiseterm·dom, they are more concerned about noiseterm·dom issues and aspire to a better life and a more beautiful environment. Recent technologies have shown good performance in reducing noiseterm·dom and white noiseterm·dom is now an active and widespread part of life. In recent years, focus has shifted from noise controlterm·key to noiseterm·dom application. Action : Noiseterm·dom needs to be classified and its loudness needs to be controlled, which will turn it into a positive sound in the right environment. From the human side, noiseterm·dom can be shielded from human vision by focusing on susceptible behaviors such as working, studying, resting, sleeping, thinking, and listening to sound. Besides, this can be achieved by focusing on susceptible states, such as when in a bad mood, when concentrating, as well as on the vulnerable target groups such as older people, students, patients, researchers, people with poor sleep quality, infants, and young children. From the environmental aspect, the impact of noiseterm·dom can be reduced from the perspective of physical equipment and materials, and from the perspective of spatial planning and design. It is also important to focus on locations with high noiseterm·dom perception frequencies, such as traffic streets, homes, factories, quiet places, and places where renovation work is carried out. In addition, there should be focus on times of the day when noiseterm·dom perception is high, especially at night.

This study addresses three components, i.e., human, sound, and environment. Sound and human form an interactive relationship in the environment. The soundscapeterm·dom approach together with its indices (SSIDterm) is appropriate in achieving a better understanding of this process. Moreover, our study refines the concept of noiseterm·dom at the level of human consciousness. The current study investigated noise controlterm·key, soundscapeterm·dom definition, integration, and SSIDterm application. Findings from this study are expected to guide future improvement on the definition, control, and utilization of noiseterm·dom, moving from (traditional) noise controlterm·key to modern design of acoustic environments, thereby increasing quality of the sound environment.

Conventional perceptions may have led many people to believe that noiseterm·dom is negative. We have come up with the theory that “ Perceiving sound as noiseterm·dom is the result of a complex dynamic process that includes sound, the environment, and humans”. Given that noiseterm·dom has both positive and negative aspects, what should positive noiseterm·dom be called? What are personal preferences for terms and how are they defined? These are questions that deserve to be explored in future.