Subjective assessment of listening environments in university classrooms: Perceptions of students,"

A questionnaire is developed to evaluate perception of the listening environment by university students. The objectives were to develop a questionnaire-based measurement tool, derive a measure of perceived classroom-listening quality, use the questionnaire to investigate factors that enhance, impair, or do not affect perceived listening quality, and consider the implications for classroom design. The questionnaire was administered to over 5700 students in 30 classrooms at one university. Physical and acoustical measurements were also performed in each classroom. The questionnaire included items that recorded aspects of student perception, as well as individual, course-, and instructor-specific factors. Responses to 19 perception items generated a perception of listening ease ͑PLE͒ score for each student and a classroom-average score. Decreased PLE was associated with women, English-second-language students, those with hearing impairment, students not interested in the course material, and those who found the material difficult. Increased PLE was associated with higher speech transmission index, acceptable lighting, temperature and seating, better instructor voice, increased visual-aid use, and easier course material. Results indicate that PLE is a useful measure of student perception of the classroom-listening environment, and that optimal classroom acoustical design must take into consideration "in-use" conditions, as well as classroom physical characteristics

Help-seeking for advanced rehabilitation by adults with hearing loss : an ecological model

Hearing loss affects the lives of many individuals, making communication difficult and often negatively influencing family, social, and occupational relationships, and selfimage. The aim of hearing rehabilitation is the reduction of communication problems encountered by individuals with hearing loss. While participants highly value group hearing rehabilitative programs, there is an underutilization of these rehabilitation services. This study explores help-seeking for advanced hearing rehabilitation by attempting to answer the research question 'what are the factors that prevent or promote individuals with hearing loss from seeking advanced rehabilitation in the form of group hearing rehabilitation'? Twenty individuals participated in this study. Seven participants reported on previous experience with a hearing rehabilitation program. The remaining individuals were invited to participate in a program as part of the study. Four participants declined to participate, seven completed the nine-week program, and two dropped out before the program was completed. For those who participated in the program, data were collected before, during, and after the program. Sources of data included one-to-one interview sessions, journal entries, and questionnaires. The research approach followed the principles of grounded theory, one tradition of qualitative research. A systematic analysis of the data led to a theoretical framework. Interview transcripts and journal entries were coded and the codes were grouped into categories. Five categories emerged from the data: understanding hearing loss, personal experience with hearing loss, interaction between the person with hearing loss and society, taking action, and reflections on rehabilitation experience. Each of these categories could a l so be considered a s responses to additional questions that emerged as the study progressed. Throughout these categories, three recurrent themes appeared: identity, challenge, and adjustment. These themes and categories were incorporated into the development of the core category as a model of ecological balance. The findings of this study indicate that participants' help-seeking involves an iterative process whereby identity is assessed , challenges are recognized, and adjustments are made to address the challenges. This model has implications for audiological practice based on the contribution it makes to our understanding of help-seeking behavior for hearing loss, in particular, and possibly other health issues more generally.Medicine, Faculty ofAudiology and Speech Sciences, School ofGraduat

From Stills to Motion & Back Again : Texts on Andy Warhol's "Screen Tests" & "Outer and Inner Space"

Providing an historical context for “Screen Tests” and “Outer and Inner Space,” this catalogue situates the work in relation to the rest of Warhol’s œuvre. Links to other media are suggested: Angell argues that the films underscore the problems of portraiture only hinted at in the paintings, while Hoberman claims that the films are video “avant la lettre.” Includes a transcription of the audio tracks for “Outer and Inner Space.” List of works. Brief biographical notes on contributors. 14 bibl. ref