The negative impact of noise on human health is well established and a high percentage of environmental noise is related with traffic sources. In this study, we compared annoyance judgments of real and virtual traffic sounds. Virtual sounds were generated through an auralization software with input from close proximity tyre/road noise measurements and real sounds were recorded through a Head and Torso Simulator. Both groups had sounds generated at two speeds and from three urban pavement surfaces (asphalt concrete, concrete blocks and granite cubes). Under controlled laboratory conditions, participants rated the annoyance of each real and virtual stimulus. It was found that virtual stimuli, based on close proximity tyre/road noise, can be used to assess traffic annoyance, in spite of systematic lower rates than those found for real stimuli. The effects of type of pavement and speed were the same for both conditions (real and virtualized stimulus). Opposed to granite cubes, asphalt concrete had lower annoyance rates for both test speeds and higher rate differences between real and virtual stimuli. Additionally, it was also found that annoyance is better described by Loudness than by LAmax. This evidence is stronger for the virtual stimuli condition than for the real stimuli one. Nevertheless, we should stress that it is possible to accurately predict real annoyance rates from virtual auralized sound samples through a simple transformation model. The methodology developed is clearly efficient and significantly simplifies field procedures, allowing the reduction of experimental costs, a better control of variables and an increment on the accuracy of annoyance ratings.

Los contenidos de este artículo están bajo una licencia Creative Commons

This study analyses the experiences of discrimination of Portuguese lesbian women in school during their youth. Thirty-one semi-structured interviews were carried out on Portuguese territory with women who self-identify as lesbians. The participant discourses were systematized according to the thematic analysis of qualitative data. The following three main topics emerged from the analysis: (1) (In)visibilities, (2) Homophobia and (3) Reactions. Carrying out this analysis also allowed for the demonstration of existing Discrimination in School Settings (the central organizing concept of this analysis). One of the main study conclusions concerns double discrimination, reflected in double victimization, in association with the participants belonging to a social category, in particular a feminine non-normative sexual orientation. Through omitting the existence of sexual diversity and the lack of information on that subject, the heteronormative school context promotes social exclusion and becomes a potentially unsafe place for young women who self-identify as lesbians. Based on a commitment to social transformation, this study contributes to deepening the critical reflection on the experiences of lesbian women and the processes of exclusion to which they are subjected to in the Portuguese school setting. Simultaneously, the study addresses the main needs and specificities of this social group and thus contributes to the implementation of public policies and the development of critical views fostering diversity and social justice.

No abstract