Effects of Audible Distractions on Work Performance

Abstract

Many workplaces have a wide variety of stimulus distractions which can seriously impact on a workers’ performance over time. The effects of distracting stimuli (e.g., loud, erratic, uncontrollable, background noise, loud music, strong smells, flashing lights, change in temperature) on work performance, particularly information processing, has been a topic of considerable interest over the last few decades [1-4].