Illumination effects on conversational sound levels and job candidate evaluation

Abstract

Ten groups of four female introductory psychology students discussed fictional job candidates in a laboratory setting in a between-groups design comparing two levels of illuminance, 1,274 and 400 lux mean horizontal illuminance. The dependent measures were conversational sound energy level, liking for group members, and evaluation of the successful job candidate. Contrary to expectations based on widespread notions about the behavioural effects of light in architectural environments, conversational sound energy level decreased in the high illuminance condition; the liking and evaluation measures showed no significant differences. The results suggest that some of the persistent notions about lighting and behaviour may need revision.