Dissertation ACKNOWLEDGEMENT For the Conduct of My Master's Thesis

Dissertation

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
For the accomplishment of the present dissertation I would like to sincerely express by
sincere gratitude to my mentor who has provided me sufficient knowledge and greater support.
Further I would like to thank my friends, colleagues and family members who have guided me at
ever stage while conducting dissertation. Through their support I was able to complete my thesis
with effectiveness and in an accurate manner. Lastly in the series I would also like to state
special thanks to my team members who have provided me with assistance in collecting data and
in analyzing it further.

Abstract
Cognitive abilities may be served as brained based skills that are needed to carry out any
kind of task. Moreover, in the real life scenario individual has to perform from simplest to the
complex task. In this, cognitive skills provide high level of assistance to the individuals in
performing activities more effectively and efficiently. Cognitive abilities develop awareness
among the individuals about the mechanism through which one can learn, remember, solve
problem and pay attention to the specific aspect in against to the actual knowledge. In this, to
analyze the impact of aircraft noise on perceived cognitive ability of children qualitative research
type has been selected by the scholar. The rationale behind the selection of such research type is
that by making focus on the qualitative aspects such as attention, memory level and reading
suitable outcome can be presented by the researcher.
In this, inductive approach and interpretvism philosophy has been undertaken by the
scholar to analyze the extent to which aircraft noise level has an impact the perceived cognitive
ability of children around the Heathrow airport schools. For assessing the extent to which level
of aircraft noise affects cognitive ability of children both primary and secondary sources have
been employed by the researcher. Further, by using purposive technique scholar has selected 20
teachers who teach 6-7 years old children. Moreover, the main motives behind conducting the
study are to analyze the impact of aircraft noise on the learning ability of 6-7 years old children.
In order to assess the impact of aircraft noise on the cognitive learning of 6-7 years old children
qualitative research type has been selected.
By considering this, thematic perception test technique has been applied by the
researcher. By doing assessment, it has been identified that aircraft noise negatively affects the
health as well as learning aspect of individuals. Brief thesis prepared in the literature review
section clearly presents that when noise generated by aircraft reached on 65 dB (A) then it is
harmful for others who live and learn near to the airport. Along with this, it can be stated that
aircraft noise also affects long term memory level of children related to the age of 6-7 years old.
In survey, teachers of the schools of Bedfont, Berkeley and Hillindon presented that memory
recall level of children is highly affected from aircraft noise. On the basis of such aspect, it can
be presented that memory recall level of children is high when there is no disturbance related to
aircraft noise.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
1.1 Background of the study........................................................................................................1
1.2 Research aims and objectives................................................................................................1
1.3 Research questions.................................................................................................................2
1.4 Rationale of the study............................................................................................................2
1.5 Significance of the study.......................................................................................................2
1.6 Structure of dissertation.........................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................5
Theme 1: Aircraft noise level and issues.....................................................................................5
Theme 2: Concept of perceived cognitive ability and its association with children...................6
Theme 3: Impact of aircraft noise on perceived cognitive ability of children.............................8
2.4 Research gap........................................................................................................................12
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................................14
3.1 Research type.......................................................................................................................14
3.2 Research approach...............................................................................................................15
3.3 Research philosophy............................................................................................................16
3.4 Research design...................................................................................................................16
3.5 Data collection.....................................................................................................................17
3.6 Sampling technique.............................................................................................................17
3.7 Data analysis........................................................................................................................18
3.8 Reliability and validity........................................................................................................19
3.9 Ethical considerations..........................................................................................................20
3.10 Research limitations...........................................................................................................20
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS...................................................................22

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.....................................................36
5.1 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................36
5.2 Recommendations................................................................................................................37
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................39
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................43

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
To analyze the relationship between aircraft noise and perceived cognitive ability of
children of 6-7 years old in and around the Heathrow airport schools.
1.1 Background of the study
Perceived cognitive abilities may be defined as a brain based skills that are needed to
carry out any task whether it is simplest or complex. Hence, such abilities lay emphasis on the
manner in which individual learns, remembers, solve problems and pay attention irrespective of
having the aspect of actual knowledge. Cognitive abilities or skills include various aspects such
as perception, attention, memory, visual & spatial processing, executive functions. Such kinds of
abilities are highly influenced from aircraft noise level (Klatte and et.al., 2017). From
assessment, it has been found that aircraft noise issue is highly technical and complex. Several of
programs have been organized to understand the aircraft noise impact.
Besides this, high level of emphasis has also been placed on assessing appropriate
solution which in turn reduces aircraft noise. Hence, high level of efforts has been made by The
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the control the noise of aircraft. There are several
strategies and techniques that can be undertaken to reduce the level of aircraft noise such as
development and adoption of quieter aircrafts, operational flight control, land use planning tool
(Abrams and et.al., 2016).
In this, dissertation will shed light on the extent to which aircraft noise and perceived
cognitive ability of children is associated with each other. Besides this, it will present how
aircraft noise influences the perceived cognitive ability of children of 6-7 years old in and around
the Heathrow airport schools. Hence, by undertaking suitable tools and techniques scholar has
made effort in relation to presenting solution of issue.
1.2 Research aims and objectives
Aim of the present study to assess the extent to which aircraft noise and cognitive
learning abilities of 6-7 years children are highly associated with each other. Considering such
aim following objectives have been framed by the researcher such as:

Objectives of the study
 To develop understanding about the concept of cognitive perceived ability.
 To assess the influence the impact of geographical location of schools on the cognitive
ability and performance of students.
 To investigate the level of aircraft noise and its impact on the perceived cognitive ability
of 6-7 years children.
 To determine the relationship between Geographical location and OFSTED
reports/results.
 To investigate the difference in OFSTED reports/results pertaining to the schools located
close and not close to Heathrow airport.
 To recommend the suitable strategies that contributes in the growth and learning of
children.
1.3 Research questions
For conducting study in an appropriate manner and in the right direction following
questions have been framed by the scholar such as:
Question 1: What are the concept of perceived cognitive learning and its association with
children?
Question 2: Which kind of relationship takes place between aircraft noise and cognitive ability
of children (6-7 years old) around the Heathrow airport schools?
Question 3:How results of OFSTED reports differ in relation to the schools situated near to
Heathrow airport and the one that is far from such path?
Question 4:How geographical location of schools influences the cognitive ability and
performance of students?
Question 5:Is Geographical location and OFSTED reports/results are highly related to each
other?

1.4 Rationale of the study
The rationale behind conducting investigation is to assess the impact of aircraft noise on
perceived cognitive learning of children who are in the age of 6-7 years. Aircraft is the main
issues because it has direct and high level of influence on both health as well as cognitive
learning abilities of children. Now, it becomes major issue because schools which are situated
around the airport closely affect the attention level of students (von Lochow and et.al., 2017). It
influences their attention and imposes issues in analyzing several aspects and taking appropriate
decision. Due to having high level of aircraft noise students also take more time in relation to
choosing one option out of two. Hence, the present study will provide deeper insight about the
manner in which aircraft noise impacts the aspect of perceived cognitive learning. Hence, by
making evaluation of all such related aspects and schools situated around Heathrow airport
scholar would become able to present fair outcome of issue.
1.5 Significance of the study
Field of research becomes too wide in the recent times as compared to the former period.
Now, scholar lays emphasis on exploring and investigating several issues which in turn helps in
distinct image over others. In this, study related to aircraft noise and its relationship with
perceived cognitive ability will provide high level of assistance to other scholar who wishes to
conduct investigation on similar topic. Hence, such study will provide theoretical knowledge to
other scholars about the research issue or topic and thereby helps in developing suitable
hypothesis for further research. In this way, presented study and its outcome will provide
significant and high level of benefits to the researcher.
Besides this, concerned study also develops understanding of the higher authorities of
schools around Heathrow airports about the level to which aircraft noise has an impact on
perceived cognitive ability of children. Hence, by developing knowledge about all such aspects
concerned authorities of school can undertake significant action or measure that helps in raising
the perceived cognitive ability of 6-7 years children. Besides this, study and its findings will also
provide high level of assistance to the teachers in developing highly strategic framework that
places positive impact on the cognitive ability of children. All the above mentioned aspects
clearly show that study related to aircraft noise and perceived cognitive ability is highly
important for other scholars and schools situated around the airports.