Kim Foale’s research while affiliated with University of Salford and other places

I am conducting a Grounded Theory approach to measuring opinions of urban soundscapes. This approach makes it possible to focus on the soundscapes experienced by an individual in their daily life, instead of focussing on the soundscape of a specific location. Participants are given a small portable recording device and asked to keep a sound diary for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, participants are given a 60-minute interview about their experiences. The methodology is designed to give people time to think about soundscapes in their own words, and record what is important to them, rather than using a researcher-centered environment and vocabulary. Early data suggests people listen in a multitude of ways that challenge existing ideas of modes of listening, care more about work and home environments than public places, and that the role and importance of soundscape is both quantitatively and qualitatively different in varying environments. I also question the idea of what an ”expert listener” is, with examples of various ways participants have demonstrated very high aural acuity without any acoustics/sound engineering background.