Train horn – broader social effects

What is the purpose of this research?

Does the environmental noise surrounding your home affect the quality of your sleep and daily life?

This study is looking to examine the effect of environmental noise surrounding your home on your sleep health and daily functioning. Please fill in a 30-minute online survey to inform us about your experiences.

Are you looking for people like me?

The research team is inviting people who are over 18 and currently live in the Brisbane Region or Townsville, and would like to inform us what it is like to live in their current residential environments (close to railway level crossings and/or stations, alongside rail tracks or in quiet streets).

What will you ask me to do?

Your participation will involve completing an online survey that will take approximately 30 minutes of your time. Should multiple residents of your home wish to complete the survey and join the prize draw, a separate computer, pad or phone will need to be used for each person.

The survey has questions and statements enquiring about your general sleeping habits, how loud rail noise is in your residence, if you hear train horns or crossing bells, if this noise has an effect on your ability to sleep and if it creates stress and/or annoyance that disturbs your wellbeing. Some questions use different scales for answers (Not at all - Extremely, Strongly disagree - Strongly agree). Other questions will ask demographic information such as age and gender.

Your participation in this research project is entirely voluntary. If you agree to participate you do not have to complete any question(s) you are uncomfortable answering and you can cease participation in the research project during your participation by closing the browser on the computer.

Are there any risks for me in taking part?

There are no risks beyond normal day-to-day living associated with your participation in this research project.

Are there any benefits for me in taking part?

It is expected that this research project will not directly benefit yourself, other than a sense of satisfaction for helping with this research. The main benefits of this study are for rail and road safety research and policy.

Will I be compensated for my time?

To thank you for your contribution, should you choose at the completion of the survey you may enter a prize draw of 10 x $150 shopping e-vouchers from Giftpay.com.au, which will be drawn at the conclusion of the survey data collection. Email addresses for the prize draw shall be kept separate from the survey data and will be destroyed following the prize draw.

I am interested - what should I do next?

If you are interested in participating in this study, please fill out the online survey.