The effect of a reduced reverberation time on students’ perceived comfort and performance in higher education classrooms: a between-groups experiment

Henk Willem Brink; Marcel G.L.C. Loomans; Mark P. Mobach; Helianthe S.M. Kort

The effect of a reduced reverberation time on students’ perceived comfort and performance in higher education classrooms: a between-groups experiment

Henk Willem Brink, Marcel G.L.C. Loomans, Mark P. Mobach, Helianthe S.M. Kort

Facility Management

Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of the Built Environment, Building Performance IEQ-Health,
The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Research Centre Mission Zero, Research Group Spatial Environment and the User

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › Academic

Abstract

The Dutch government's "Fresh Schools" program aims to improve indoor environmental quality in schools by setting requirements for school buildings. School management must choose an indoor environment quality class (A, B, or C). This study examines the impact of different reverberation times (RT) on students' perceptions and academic performance.
A field study with a between-groups experimental design was conducted during a regular academic course. The intervention condition had an RT of 0.4 s (class A), while the control condition had an RT of 0.6 s (class B). Students' perceptions of acoustic comfort, cognitive performance, and learning quality were measured using questionnaires. Their short-term academic performance was evaluated with a content-related test. Results from 194 responses showed that students in the intervention condition, compared to those in the control condition, reported higher alertness, concentration, and writing ability. However, they did not score better on an academic test.

Original language	English
Number of pages	7
Publication status	Published - 11 Jun 2025
Event	HEALTHY BUILDINGS 2025: ISIAQ INTERNATIONAL Regional Conference, Europe - Reykjavík University, Reykjavík , Iceland Duration: 7 Jun 2025 → 11 Jun 2025 https://www.hb2025iceland.org/

Conference

Conference	HEALTHY BUILDINGS 2025
Abbreviated title	HB2025
Country/Territory	Iceland
City	Reykjavík
Period	7/06/25 → 11/06/25
Internet address	https://www.hb2025iceland.org/

Keywords

acoustic comfort
cognitive performance
speech intelligibility
quality of learning

Research Focus Areas Hanze University of Applied Sciences * (mandatory by Hanze)

Healthy Ageing

Research Focus Areas Research Centre or Centre of Expertise * (mandatory by Hanze)

Health & Wellbeing

Publinova themes

Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cite this

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title = "The effect of a reduced reverberation time on students{\textquoteright} perceived comfort and performance in higher education classrooms: a between-groups experiment",

abstract = "The Dutch government's {"}Fresh Schools{"} program aims to improve indoor environmental quality in schools by setting requirements for school buildings. School management must choose an indoor environment quality class (A, B, or C). This study examines the impact of different reverberation times (RT) on students' perceptions and academic performance. A field study with a between-groups experimental design was conducted during a regular academic course. The intervention condition had an RT of 0.4 s (class A), while the control condition had an RT of 0.6 s (class B). Students' perceptions of acoustic comfort, cognitive performance, and learning quality were measured using questionnaires. Their short-term academic performance was evaluated with a content-related test. Results from 194 responses showed that students in the intervention condition, compared to those in the control condition, reported higher alertness, concentration, and writing ability. However, they did not score better on an academic test. ",

keywords = "acoustic comfort, cognitive performance, speech intelligibility, quality of learning, akoestisch comfort, spraakverstaanbaarheid, cognitieve prestaties, kwaliteit van het leren",

author = "Brink, \{Henk Willem\} and Loomans, \{Marcel G.L.C.\} and Mobach, \{Mark P.\} and Kort, \{Helianthe S.M.\}",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "11",

language = "English",

note = "HEALTHY BUILDINGS 2025 : ISIAQ INTERNATIONAL Regional Conference, Europe, HB2025 ; Conference date: 07-06-2025 Through 11-06-2025",

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TY - CONF

T1 - The effect of a reduced reverberation time on students’ perceived comfort and performance in higher education classrooms

T2 - HEALTHY BUILDINGS 2025

AU - Brink, Henk Willem

AU - Loomans, Marcel G.L.C.

AU - Mobach, Mark P.

AU - Kort, Helianthe S.M.

PY - 2025/6/11

Y1 - 2025/6/11

N2 - The Dutch government's "Fresh Schools" program aims to improve indoor environmental quality in schools by setting requirements for school buildings. School management must choose an indoor environment quality class (A, B, or C). This study examines the impact of different reverberation times (RT) on students' perceptions and academic performance. A field study with a between-groups experimental design was conducted during a regular academic course. The intervention condition had an RT of 0.4 s (class A), while the control condition had an RT of 0.6 s (class B). Students' perceptions of acoustic comfort, cognitive performance, and learning quality were measured using questionnaires. Their short-term academic performance was evaluated with a content-related test. Results from 194 responses showed that students in the intervention condition, compared to those in the control condition, reported higher alertness, concentration, and writing ability. However, they did not score better on an academic test.

AB - The Dutch government's "Fresh Schools" program aims to improve indoor environmental quality in schools by setting requirements for school buildings. School management must choose an indoor environment quality class (A, B, or C). This study examines the impact of different reverberation times (RT) on students' perceptions and academic performance. A field study with a between-groups experimental design was conducted during a regular academic course. The intervention condition had an RT of 0.4 s (class A), while the control condition had an RT of 0.6 s (class B). Students' perceptions of acoustic comfort, cognitive performance, and learning quality were measured using questionnaires. Their short-term academic performance was evaluated with a content-related test. Results from 194 responses showed that students in the intervention condition, compared to those in the control condition, reported higher alertness, concentration, and writing ability. However, they did not score better on an academic test.

KW - acoustic comfort

KW - cognitive performance

KW - speech intelligibility

KW - quality of learning

KW - akoestisch comfort

KW - spraakverstaanbaarheid

KW - cognitieve prestaties

KW - kwaliteit van het leren

UR - https://www.isiaq.org/conference_proceedings.php

M3 - Paper

Y2 - 7 June 2025 through 11 June 2025

ER -

The effect of a reduced reverberation time on students’ perceived comfort and performance in higher education classrooms: a between-groups experiment

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Research Focus Areas Hanze University of Applied Sciences * (mandatory by Hanze)

Research Focus Areas Research Centre or Centre of Expertise * (mandatory by Hanze)

Publinova themes

UN SDGs

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Examining in-class activities to facilitate academic achievement in higher education: A framework for optimal indoor environmental conditions