The Effects of Ambient Noise on the Measurement of Mathematics Achievement for Urban High School Students

• In Event: 63.084 - Roundtable Session 22
  In Roundtable Session: 63.084-18 - Urban Education Across Settings and Contexts

Abstract

This study explores how one such factor, ambient noise, affects the measurement of mathematics achievement in urban high schools. A noise coping scale was first developed to evaluate how bothersome ambient noise is to students. Overall, about 40% of students were bothered by background noise during testing. Noise coping is found to be negatively correlated with math achievement score, or the more a student feels bothered by the noise, the lower the test score is likely to be. Noise coping accounts for about 10% of the achievement test score, comparable to that explained by GPA. These findings indicate a clear association between ambient noise and the measurement of math achievement.

Authors

• Bo Zhang, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

• Regina Ann Navejar, Milwaukee Public Schools