[Construction of semantic scales for the subjective evaluation of noise]

This is the first stage of a research the aim of which is to construct proper scales for the subjective evaluation of noise, using Osgood's Differential Semantic Technique. 137 adjectives were selected using two criteria. For the first criterium a method based on Gougenheim's and Hogenraad's researches was used. 200 subjects were asked to write 30 adjectives that could be used for qualifying sonorous stimuli. The frequencies of the adjectives given by the subjects were calculated and 25 of them were selected for being under the 10% limit of the probability, arbitrarily chosen as a criterium for the selection. For the second criterium 10 acoustic researchers were asked to write all those adjectives they considered important for noise evaluation. Thus, 112 adjectives were selected. The 137 adjectives got by the two criteria were judged by 15 university professors of different careers, for getting their opposites. A level of agreement of at least 6 of 15 judges was considered. 62 adjectives with their opposites were got and using other two criteria they were reduced to 37. A hypothesis was formulated grouping the adjectives into 8 factors taking into account the three universal factors: Evaluation (E), Potency (P) and Activity (A) according to the Differential Semantic Technique. Seven point scales were constructed with the adjectives. The construction of the scales, the selection of concepts, the application of them to a sample of subjects and data analysis will be the second stage of this research.