Implementation of short-term undergraduate psychoacoustics research project involving human subjects.

Heather Lai; Anne C Balant

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Conference: 2024 Fall ASEE Mid-Atlantic Section Conference
Location: Farmingdale State College, NY, New York
Publication Date: October 25, 2024
Start Date: October 25, 2024
End Date: November 5, 2024
Conference Session: Technical Sessions 4
Tagged Topics: Diversity and Professional Papers
Page Count: 11
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--49442
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/49442
Download Count: 14

Paper Authors

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Heather Lai State University of New York at New Paltz orcid.org/0000-0002-9618-2739

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Heather Lai is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at SUNY New Paltz, NY where she teaches courses in dynamics, system dynamics, finite element analysis and computer simulation. Her professional background and research interests include automotive vibration (Motorola Inc.), musculoskeletal biomechanics (BME, Wayne State University), room acoustics, wind farm acoustics and the dynamic behavior of 3D printed multi-materials. Over the past 8 years, she has collaboratively developed a number of new and revised courses, including a new System Dynamics Lab. She has also worked with a number of SUNY students to investigate different aspects of 3D printed multi-material structures.

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Anne C Balant State University of New York at New Paltz

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Abstract

This paper outlines the development and implementation of a five-week undergraduate psychoacoustics research project involving human subjects. It details the preparation and scaffolding necessary for students with limited research experience to complete the project within a compressed timeframe. The psychoacoustics project was completed by two undergraduate students as part of a summer research program targeting underrepresented minority undergraduate STEM students. In addition to providing valuable research experience, the project included the goal of helping the students develop an appreciation of the importance of human factors in research and engineering design, aligning with ABET outcomes 2 and 4. The project described was a part of a larger research initiative related to wind farm acoustics. This initiative has three main components: data collection and characterization using artificial intelligence, perceptual analysis of the psychoacoustics of wind farm noise, and community engagement. The students were taught the principles of field research including outdoor acoustical measurements and psychoacoustic research involving listening studies with human participants. They participated in the data collection, design and completion of the psychoacoustic tests with human participants, and analysis of results. The success of this project in the compressed timeframe was largely due to tools and structures that were in place from previous research, as well as careful advanced planning. Scaffolding of the student tasks within the five-week project were structured so that the students would have a role in decision making throughout the process. Faculty mentors provided oversight and technical guidance throughout the process, while the students were given the responsibility of drawing conclusions and determining how to best communicate their results. With strong faculty support and preparation, the students demonstrated autonomy in completing the project, successfully collecting, analyzing, and presenting data. This experience reinforced the value of psychoacoustic studies and encouraged consideration of human factors in engineering design.

Citation
Format

Lai, H., & Balant, A. C. (2024, October), Implementation of short-term undergraduate psychoacoustics research project involving human subjects. Paper presented at 2024 Fall ASEE Mid-Atlantic Section Conference, Farmingdale State College, NY, New York. 10.18260/1-2--49442

TY - CPAPER
AB - This paper outlines the development and implementation of a five-week undergraduate psychoacoustics research project involving human subjects. It details the preparation and scaffolding necessary for students with limited research experience to complete the project within a compressed timeframe. The psychoacoustics project was completed by two undergraduate students as part of a summer research program targeting underrepresented minority undergraduate STEM students. In addition to providing valuable research experience, the project included the goal of helping the students develop an appreciation of the importance of human factors in research and engineering design, aligning with ABET outcomes 2 and 4.
The project described was a part of a larger research initiative related to wind farm acoustics. This initiative has three main components: data collection and characterization using artificial intelligence, perceptual analysis of the psychoacoustics of wind farm noise, and community engagement. The students were taught the principles of field research including outdoor acoustical measurements and psychoacoustic research involving listening studies with human participants. They participated in the data collection, design and completion of the psychoacoustic tests with human participants, and analysis of results.
The success of this project in the compressed timeframe was largely due to tools and structures that were in place from previous research, as well as careful advanced planning. Scaffolding of the student tasks within the five-week project were structured so that the students would have a role in decision making throughout the process. Faculty mentors provided oversight and technical guidance throughout the process, while the students were given the responsibility of drawing conclusions and determining how to best communicate their results. With strong faculty support and preparation, the students demonstrated autonomy in completing the project, successfully collecting, analyzing, and presenting data. This experience reinforced the value of psychoacoustic studies and encouraged consideration of human factors in engineering design.

AU - Heather Lai
AU - Anne C Balant
CY - Farmingdale State College, NY, New York
DA - 2024/10/25
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Implementation of short-term undergraduate psychoacoustics research project involving human subjects.
UR - https://peer.asee.org/49442
DO - 10.18260/1-2--49442
ER -