ISO/TS 12913-3:2025

Technical
Specification
ISO/TS 12913-3
Second edition
Acoustics — Soundscape —
2025-05
Part 3:
Data analysis
Acoustique — Paysage sonore —
Partie 3: Analyse de données
Reference number
© ISO 2025
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 General . 1
5 Analysis of quantitative data . 2
6 Analysis of qualitative data . 2
7 Analysis of binaural data . 2
8 Triangulation . 3
Annex A (informative) Analysis of data related to Method A . 4
Annex B (informative) Analysis of data related to Method B .12
Annex C (informative) Analysis of data related to Method C . 14
Annex D (informative) Analysis of binaural data .16
Annex E (informative) Triangulation .20
Bibliography .21

iii
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 43, Acoustics, Subcommittee SC 1, Noise.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/TS 12913-3:2019), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— editorial changes throughout the document;
— revision of Annex A;
— suppression of Annex F.
A list of all parts in the ISO 12913 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
The ISO 12913 series on soundscape was developed in order to enable a broad international consensus
and to provide a foundation for communication across disciplines and professions with an interest in
soundscape. ISO 12913-1 provides the definition of and a conceptual framework for the term ‘soundscape’.
ISO/TS 12913-2 provides requirements and supporting information on data collection and reporting for
soundscape studies, investigations and applications. This document provides guidance on how to analyse
data collected in agreement with ISO/TS 12913-2.

v
Technical Specification ISO/TS 12913-3:2025(en)
Acoustics — Soundscape —
Part 3:
Data analysis
1 Scope
This document provides requirements and supporting information on analysis of data collected in situ
through methods as specified in ISO/TS 12913-2.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 12913-1, Acoustics — Soundscape — Part 1: Definition and conceptual framework
ISO/TS 12913-2:2018, Acoustics — Soundscape — Part 2: Data collection and reporting requirements
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 12913-1 and ISO/TS 12913-2 and
the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
confounder
factor influencing the collected responses that is not controlled or systematically considered
EXAMPLE Sequential effects, certain scaling effects such as the range effects, or demand characteristics.
4 General
As mentioned in the Introduction of ISO/TS 12913-2:2018, “The concept of soundscape was adopted to provide
a holistic approach to the acoustic environment, beyond noise, and its effect on the quality of life. Soundscape
investigations intend to assess all sounds perceived in an environment in all its complexity. To do this, soundscape
studies use a variety of data collection methods related to human perception, the acoustic environment and
the context. Importantly, the study of soundscape relies primarily upon human perception, and only then turns
to physical measurement.” Data collection is based on this focus and requires a respective analysis (see
References [1][2]).
For the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data through methods specified in ISO/TS 12913-2, methods
and tools shall be applied as provided in this document. Given the diversity of the data collected (qualitative
and quantitative), corresponding analysis methods could take precedence depending on the needs of the
project or the research question, and should be integrated for a holistic understanding of the soundscape.

In general, descriptive statistics are used to describe and summarize the collected perceptual data, such as
measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion (see Reference [3]).
For quantitative measures of dependence, inferential statistics using parametric and non-parametric
tests shall be applied depending on the respective data. Fulfilment of model assumptions (e.g. normality
distribution) shall be carefully assessed, especially in the case of small numbers of participants. If needed,
appropriate remedial measures shall be applied. However, as soundscape investigations are intended to be
“holistic in covering all auditory sensations as well as all other context variables such as visual stimuli and
personal expectations” [ISO/TS 12913-2], the use of statistical analysis methods (e.g. statistical hypothesis
testing) is recommended, but may be less important in case of qualitative or explorative methods. For
qualitative data, a variety of approaches are available to systematically analyse qualitative data using some
kind of step by step coding principles to generalize the observations.
Because of factors that could influence results, a thorough discussion of potential confounders (i.e. bias
effects) shall complete the general data analysis. Confounders are, for example, the sequential effect (a
previous site influences the assessments of the following site) (see Reference [4]) certain scaling effects, like
the range effect (tendency to use full range of a scale independent from stimuli set) (see Reference [5]), or
demand characteristics (cues, like the instruction text or the behaviour of the person leading the soundwalk,
that signal the research goal and influence assessments) (see Reference [6]).
NOTE Based on the collected data, it is possible to study the classification of sites. For the study of classification
of sites, different statistical clustering methods are available, which allow for identifying relevant variables for
clustering and determining the similarity or dissimilarity of sites, based on both acoustical data (see Reference [7])
and perceptual data (see Reference [8]).
5 Analysis of quantitative data
The quantitative data obtained by means of questionnaires in soundscape investigations shall be analysed
depending on the respective level of measurement (i.e. nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio). Any correlation
analysis shall be chosen in accordance with the level of measurement of the questionnaire data. Inferential
statistical tests regarding the level of significance of differences in evaluation between sites and/or
correlations shall be carried out and probability values reported. Any chosen method (e.g. measure of central
tendency, measure of dispersion, correlation analysis, and statistical hypothesis testing method) shall be
reported. For more information, see Annex A (Method A) and Annex B (Method B).
6 Analysis of qualitative data
Data from qualitative interviews shall be transcribed for reporting and further analysis. The style of
transcription, whether clean read, verbatim or strict verbatim transcription, depends on the object of the
investigation. For the analysis via the Grounded Theory, the clean read transcription style is sufficient.
Violations of common rules for conducting interviews (ethical rules, being suggestive, being prejudiced)
shall be reported, and the related data excluded from further analysis.
Qualitative data shall be analysed by scientifically proven systematic text analysis methods, such as the
Grounded Theory (see Reference [9]), Qualitative Content Analysis (see Reference [10]) or Social Network
Analysis as part of mixed-methods design (see Reference [11]). The process of analysis shall follow these
methods and be described. For more information, see Annex C (Method C).
In addition to established text analysis methods, other methods to gather and analyse qualitative data
(such as behavioral mapping, observational analyses, analysis of social interaction, walking patterns; see
examples in References [12][13][14][15]) are available and, if determined appropriate in certain cases, shall
be applied.
7 Analysis of binaural data
T
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