First SenseLab studies with primary school children: exposure to different environmental configurations in the experience room

To study the combined effect of different environmental factors on children in a classroom setting, 250 children from seven primary schools were exposed to 36 different environmental configurations ('all' and 'fewer' acoustical panels; 'displacement' and 'mixing' ventilation; sound type: 'children talk', 'traffic', and 'none'; and 'direct', 'indirect' and 'soft' lighting). In a four-way factorial design, they assessed with 18 groups on eight different days temperature, draught, noise, light and smell. Correlation, three-way ANOVA, comparison tests and multi-regression analysis were used to analyse relationships, and main, cross-modal and interaction effects. The results show that more acoustical panels had a positive effect on the children's assessment of sound. Sound type had a main effect on the assessment of sound. Statistical significant crossmodal effects were found for lighting and sound type on the assessment of smell. Significant three-way interactions between 'Vent', 'Sound', and 'Light' types were found for smell and light in the 'fewer panels' situations; and for light in the 'all panels' situations. Multipleregression analysis also showed that perception of smell was significantly related with draught, sound and light perception in 'fewer panels' conditions. Further studies on these cross-modal interactions are recommended, specifically at individual level.