August Schick: The concept of annoyance in noise research. Lengerich: Pabst 1997, 120 pages, 20 DM (ISBN 3-931660-79-6).

This book can be requested from the publisher:
Pabst Sciene, Eichengrund 28, 49525 Lengerich, Fax: 05484-550
e-mail: Pabst.Publishers@t-online.de

or directly from the author: August Schick, Univ. Oldenburg, PF 5634, 26046 Oldenburg
Fax: 0441-798-195518, e-mail:

Table of contents

1 From the loudness to the annoyance of sound: Further thoughts on the understanding of annoying sound

1.1 Nuisance as a key concept in environmental research

1.2 The comparative studies by Harrer & Harrer

1.3 The effect of conferring meaning on physiological variables

2 Approaches to understanding annoyance

2.1 Annoyance as a sensory fact

2.2 Annoyance as an expression of a biological orientation reaction of an organism

2.3 Annoyance as a phenomenon of an overall life situation

2.4 The treatment of the annoyance problem in the context of Kryter and Stevens

3 The validity of the annoyance judgement for the detection of sound effects

3.1 The proof of the nuisance judgement in the history of noise research

3.2 Multidimensional forms of expression of perceived annoyance

4 Sader's phenomenological analyses

5 Proof of the influence of psychological conditions on sensory processes as a precursor to a theory of sound effects

6 The moderator concept of the sound effect

7 Sound effect within multiple loads

8 The design approach of Laucken & Mees

9 Barker's ecological approach

From a book review by Professor Dr Jürgen Hellbrück
in the Zeitschrift für Lärmbekämpfung 1998, vol. 45, issue 2, p. 72:

"A small booklet has recently appeared on the market, modest and restrained in its presentation, even in price. However, the author is no stranger to acoustics and noise research. August Schick, Professor of Psychology at the University of Oldenburg, Director of the Institute for the Study of Human-Environment Relations, deputy spokesman for the Oldenburg Graduate School of Psychoacoustics, initiator and organiser of the Oldenburg Symposia on Psychological Acoustics, which have now been running for almost two decades, has devoted himself to the concept of annoyance in noise research.

Significant nuisance is a key term in the Federal Immission Control Act, which aims to protect citizens from significant disadvantages and nuisance caused by anthropogenic environmental effects, including noise. But what is a significant nuisance? This is the question that runs through the book.

Of course, answers to this question had already been given before Schick's book. What characterises Schick's approach to this question, however, is his scientific-historical perspective. The fact that the meaning and use of the term "annoyance" also depends on scientific viewpoints, on changing perceptions of humans, the environment and human-environment relationships, becomes clear at the latest when reading this book. From ecological-biological to psychophysical, perceptual-psychological, action-theoretical and ecopsychological approaches, Schick deals with the concept of nuisance.

It goes without saying that this wide-ranging framework in just under 100 pages of text does not allow every point to be discussed in detail. I often wished I could follow one of Schick's lines of thought further. Even the last section, namely Roger Barker's very interesting ecopsychological approach, is finished when the appetite kicks in. However, the fact that one feels this desire for more makes it clear that Schick has hit a nerve by discussing the concept of harassment against its background in the history of science and the zeitgeist. This is not a book for reference, but one that makes you think.

I hope that all those involved in questions of sound effects, whether in science, industry or government, will read this book. But it is not only a book worth reading for acousticians, but actually for everyone who is concerned with the impairment and annoyance of people caused by environmental factors, including non-acoustic ones. And who knows, when the appetite for more has grown, perhaps the author will publish a more detailed book on this subject. I would like that too."