Exploring the Relationship Between Level of Office Noise and Salary Recommendations: A Preliminary Research Note

Abstract

This small scale study extends the research concerning the effects of environmental conditions on evaluative interpersonal judgments. Twenty male undergraduate students were randomly assigned to two conditions: (a) noisy (taped office noise played at 70-80 decibels) and (b) quiet (ambient noise at 55-57 decibels). After a 20-minute adaption period, the subjects evaluated five simulated resumes and recommended starting salaries f or each job applicant. Subjects working in the noisy condition recommended significantly lower starting salaries, with a mean group difference of $971. Alternative theoretical explanations for this finding, as well as its practical implications, are discussed. The noise level-evaluative judgment relationship appears to be a potentially fruitful area for systematic research in organizational settings.