Semantic differential analysis of effects of indoor soundscapes on learning efficiency during online home-based classes.

This investigation into the effects of indoor soundscapes on learning efficiency during home-based online classes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic leveraged a questionnaire survey to gather insights from participants across 32 provinces in China. The survey findings reveal a notable preference among respondents for sounds emanating from nature and culture, alongside an acceptance of sounds inherent to lectures. A significant majority showed a preference for a tranquil soundscape or one enriched with natural and cultural elements, emphasizing that such an environment, coupled with the ability for active communication, is conducive to enhancing learning efficiency. Through semantic differential analysis, the study identified four pivotal factors that influence subjective evaluations of indoor soundscapes: the nature of online classes, relaxation, physical attributes of the soundscape, and aspects related to personal study. Additionally, the analysis delved into gender and regional differences in soundscape perceptions and their impact on learning. A key finding is that complex soundscapes negatively affect the learning process, with 45.7% of respondents reporting a perceived decrease in learning efficiency attributable to the indoor soundscape experienced during home-based online classes. Consequently, this study suggests that optimizing learning efficiency requires creating simpler, lighter, quieter, and more relaxing soundscapes. These insights hold both theoretical and practical value, offering a foundational basis for further research into indoor soundscapes and informing the development and management of online classes. The findings underscore the importance of considering the auditory environment as a critical component of effective online education, highlighting the need for strategies that mitigate auditory distractions and foster an acoustically conducive learning space.

The comprehensive impact of thermal-PM2.5 interaction on subjective evaluation of urban outdoor space: A pilot study in a cold region of China.

Urban outdoor space has a very important impact on the quality of people's outdoor activities, which has influenced people's health and moods. Its influence is the result of the combined action of various factors. Thermal and air quality environment are important factors affecting the overall comfort of the urban outdoor space. At present, there are few research on interaction with thermal and air quality environment. Therefore, a meteorological measurement and questionnaire survey have been conducted in a representative open space in a campus in Xi'an, China. The following are the research results:(1) Mean physiological equivalent temperature (MPET) is a significant factor affecting thermal sensation vote (TSV) and thermal comfort vote (TCV). PM2.5 has no significant effect on thermal comfort vote (TCV), but it is a considerable factor affecting thermal sensation vote (TSV) when 10.2°C ≤ MPET<21°C (P = 0.023 *). (2) PM2.5 is a significant factor affecting air quality vote (AQV) and breathing comfort vote (BCV).Mean physiological equivalent temperature (MPET) has no significant impact on air quality vote (AQV), but it is a considerable factor affecting breathing comfort vote (BCV) when 10.2°C ≤ MPET<21°C (P = 0.01 **). (3) Mean physiological equivalent temperature (MPET) is a significant factor affecting overall comfort vote (OCV), but PM2.5 is not. In general, When 10.2°C ≤ MPET<21°C (-0.5 < -0.37 ≤ TCV ≤ 0.12 <0.5), the interaction between thermal and PM2.5 environment is significant on thermal sensation vote (TSV) and breathing comfort vote (BCV). This study can provide experimental support for the field of multi-factor interaction, which has shown that improving the thermal environment can better breathing comfort, while reducing PM2.5 concentration can promote thermal comfort. And can also provide reference for the study of human subjective comfort in urban outdoor space in the same latitude of the world.