Graph of Data

Table of data

Sample experimental Setup Photo

Experimental Setup Explanation

Level of sound (in decibels) was collected using a Vernier Sound Level Meter (Vernier SLM-BTA)  in conjunction with a Vernier LabQuest 2. The data was collected under 22 different conditions, as specified in the table above. All data, with the exception of data point 20 (see table), was recorded for 180 seconds. The Time Weighting switch on the Sound Level Meter (SLM) was set to “S” (slow), as is standard for most measurements. The Maximum Level Hold switch on the SLM was set to “Reset,” so that the screen would continuously display the sampled reading as opposed to the maximum reading. The Frequency Weighting switch on the SLM was set to “A,” which measures sound levels that most match those in the human hearing range. The Power/Measurement Range Switch on the SLM was most often set to “Lo,” which measures amplitudes in the range of 35-90 dB. When appropriate (when dB exceeded 90), the switch was set to “Hi,” which measures amplitudes in the range of 75-130 dB.

Explanation of Data:

The data is displayed in the table above. After collected, all data was transferred to the computers and analyzed in Logger Pro 3.8.6.1. The mean amplitude (dB), range, and slope of each graph was extracted using Logger Pro. This information, along with a photo of each graph is in the table. The mean amplitudes will be used to determine which conditions are damaging to human hearing after prolonged exposure. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and to The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, repeated or prolonged exposure to sounds at or above 85 dB can be damaging. Based on this statistic, the data will be analyzed to determine which sounds (based on mean dB) are dangerous.

Technology involved:

  Two Sound level meters: Vernier SLM-BTA (Type 2) were used in conjunction with two Vernier LabQuest 2 to record the sound level of each condition. The Vernier LabQuest 2 recorded the data and provided graphical representation of the data for each of the conditions. For further analysis, the Vernier LabQuest 2 were connected to computers (a MacBook Pro and a Samsung Series 9 Laptop), which had Logger Pro 3.8.6.1 installed. We utilized the stats tool and the linear fit tool to analyze the data in Logger Pro. Further more, we created a graph of the average dB level exposure per activity (Average dB for each data point) and created a chart of all of the data using Google Docs.

Conditions under which data was taken: 

Twenty-two conditions with various amplitude levels, from studying in the library to a Villard room party, were studied. Please see table above for specifics.

Citations:

“Noise.” ASHA. n.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.

“Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.” NIDCD. NIH, Oct. 2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.