IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i4p2932-d1061149.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Perceptual Structure of Soundscapes in Urban Public Spaces Using Semantic Coding Based on the Grounded Theory

Author

Listed:
  • Jingwen Cao

    (School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, 22# Hankou Road, Gulou District, Nanjing 210093, China)

  • Jian Kang

    (UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London (UCL), Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0NN, UK)

Abstract

The definition of ‘soundscape’ emphasises the perceptual construct of sounds; thus, the mechanism of sound perceptions becomes vital for soundscape evaluations. Using a qualitative approach, this study explored the aspects and processes of sound perceptions and built a perceptual soundscape structure from the insight of sociology. The interview was conducted between January and March 2018, in four urban public spaces. Data reached saturation after 23 participants were interviewed based on the grounded theory approach. Four perceptual aspects of sounds were identified from the semantic coding analysis: sound classification, sound features, psychological reactions, and soundscape preferences. These aspects form a three-level process of perceiving soundscapes: sound classifications, sound appraisals (including sound features and psychological reactions), and finally, judgment (soundscape preferences). Overall, four aspects categorised into three levels of perception make up the soundscape structure. Soundscape preferences are at the most profound level of perception and are informed by the previous three aspects. Soundscape preferences are expressed through descriptive words and narrative ‘image’. The ‘image’ reflects people participating in different activities according to their social background. Social relationships influence soundscape preferences through people’s sound requirements for various activities. The perceptual structure of soundscapes may provide guidance for future soundscape research and soundscape questionnaire design.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingwen Cao & Jian Kang, 2023. "A Perceptual Structure of Soundscapes in Urban Public Spaces Using Semantic Coding Based on the Grounded Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:2932-:d:1061149
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/2932/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/2932/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sung-Nam Lee & Hyun-Jin Kim, 2022. "The Experiences of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners with Clinical Supervision in South Korea: A Grounded Theory Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Eliane Schreuder & Jan van Erp & Alexander Toet & Victor L. Kallen, 2016. "Emotional Responses to Multisensory Environmental Stimuli," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(1), pages 21582440166, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Habib Alipour & Shahrzad Amelshahbaz & Farzad Safaeimanesh & Bahman Peyravi & Alireza Salavati, 2021. "The Impact of Environmental Stimuli on Hotel Service Employees’ Service Sabotage—Mediation Role of Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Dissonance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Noelia Santos-Puerta & Cecilia Peñacoba-Puente, 2022. "Pain and Avoidance during and after Endodontic Therapy: The Role of Pain Anticipation and Self-Efficacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, January.
    3. Oto Novacek & Jesus Lopez Baeza & Jan Barski & Jorg Rainer Noenning, 2021. "Defining Parameters for Urban-Environmental Quality Assessment," International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR), IGI Global, vol. 10(4), pages 152-164, October.
    4. Silviu Gabriel Szentesi & Lavinia Denisia Cuc & Andrea Feher & Paul Nichita Cuc, 2021. "Does COVID-19 Affect Safety and Security Perception in the Hospitality Industry? A Romanian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-19, October.
    5. Bliss Cavanagh & Kirsti Haracz & Miranda Lawry & Carole James, 2020. "Receptive Arts Engagement for Health: A Holistic and Trans-Disciplinary Approach to Creating a Multisensory Environment," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(4), pages 21582440209, December.
    6. Md. Uzir Hossain Uzir & Abu Bakar Abdul Hamid & Ishraq Jerin & Ahmad Shaharudin Abdul Latiff & Ramayah Thurasamy, 2021. "Customer satisfaction and brand loyalty to electronic home appliances in Bangladesh: the contingent role of brand trust," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(6), pages 1-35, June.
    7. Zhenhong He & Nils Muhlert & Rebecca Elliott, 2021. "Emotion regulation of social exclusion: a cross-cultural study," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, December.
    8. Roggeveen, Anne L. & Grewal, Dhruv & Schweiger, Elisa B., 2020. "The DAST Framework for Retail Atmospherics: The Impact of In- and Out-of-Store Retail Journey Touchpoints on the Customer Experience," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 96(1), pages 128-137.
    9. K. Balaji & R. Maheswari, 2021. "Impact of Store Image Dimensions on Shopper’s Attitude, Perceived Value, and Purchase Intention," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440219, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:2932-:d:1061149. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.