An Evaluation of Primary School Students’ Views about Noise Levels in School


Bulunuz N., Bulunuz M., Orbak A. Y., Mutlu N., Tavşanlı Ö. F.

International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, cilt.9, sa.4, ss.725-740, 2017 (Scopus) identifier

Özet

An effective education and teaching requires keeping classroom noise level within specific limits. The purpose of this study is to evaluate students’ views about noise level in school, its effects, and control of it at two primary schools (one public school and one private school) located in a district of Bursa province within the scope of the TÜBİTAK 1001 project numbered 114K738. The research sample consists of 432 third and fourth graders, 223 of whom are from the public school and 209 of whom are from the private school. To collect data, a 20-question questionnaire was administered to the students, and noise measurements were carried out in the schools. According to the findings obtained from the analysis of the answers given to the student questionnaire, the students think that noise level is high especially at break times. In parallel with the student views, average noise level at break time was found to be 74.56 dBA at the private primary school and 82.18 dBA at the public primary school. These values are much higher than the limits prescribed in the Regulation on Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise in Turkey (RAMEN) European Union Harmonization Laws. The research findings show that this important problem must be dealt with urgently, and concrete efforts and activities must be launched to reduce high noise levels in schools.