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The effect of music on performance of a task
An Experimental Psychological Study
The Effect of Music on Performance of a Task
Michael Davis
November 2002
Abstract
In order to investigate whether music affected performance of a task, and experimental technique was used, variables were manipulated and data recorded.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether different music styles affected the performance of a task. ... One group had fast music in the background, one had slow music and the third performed it in silence. ...
It was hypothesised that there would be significant differences between a) fast and slow music, b) fast and no music and c) slow and no music. ...
The data collected illustrated that having slow music playing in the background improved performance of the task compared to performing it in silence, while fast music worsened performance. ... It is especially relevant in situations where groups of people are performing a task together, as discovered by Triplett in one of the first social influence experiments, conducted in 1898. ... This effect was termed social facilitation, as the presence of others appeared to help, or facilitate, the person performing the task. ... This describes the process whereby when in a group, an individual puts less effort into a task. Latane, Williams and Harkins (1979) demonstrated this to good effect when they found that when children were asked to be noisy, they were more quiet when they were in the group and were louder on their own.
Another factor that could affect performance of a task is music. From Beethoven to the Bee Gees, music has had an impact on most of us somewhere in our lifetime. ... Many of us have at some time associated a song or piece of music with an event or situation in our lives, whether good or bad, and on hearing it again can recall feelings and emotions of that situation. It is also deeply representative of individual cultures and by listening to the music of a certain culture, we can learn a great deal about it. Its diversity is huge - the Internet itself has nearly 700,000 web pages dedicated to it - as are its range of uses - music therapy is now being used by psychiatrists to relax and help patients.
With such a broad topic to consider there were many possible paths to take, but the avenue that seemed most interesting to explore was that if different types of music would affect the performance of a task. Being a student, I was especially interested to see what sort of music affects work quality, with a view to using it personally with school-work and revision. I have found that when studying, slow relaxing music helps me concentrate and produce a better quality of work, while other students have also reported being able to revise better with slow, relaxing music playing in the background. ... (1996), the amplitude of a melody is important for task performance. ...
The basis of this study is a similar one undertaken by Mayfield and Moss (1989), who asked students to perform a task with fast, then slow tempo music playing in the background. The students reported afterwards that the fast music acted as a stress stimulator, although it made them perform the task quicker. In accordance, the participants reported that slower music seemed to relax them, thus slowing down the speed of their work. ... Here, the slow relaxing music had no effect on the results, arguing the case that music has no effect on test performance.
Therefore, based on the above research this study aims to test whether music affects performance of a task. ...
Hypotheses
1)
H1: There will be a significant difference between the scores participants get on the anagram test depending on whether they were in the condition where fast or slow music was played.
H0: There will be no significant difference between the scores participants get on the test, despite whether they were in the condition where fast or slow music was played.
2) H1: There will be a significant difference between the scores participants get on the anagram test depending on whether they were in the condition where fast music or none at all was played.
H0: There will be no significant difference between the scores participants get on the anagram test, despite whether they were in the condition where fast music or none at all was played.
3) H1: There will be a significant difference between the scores participants get on the anagram test depending on whether they were in the condition where slow music or none at all was played.
H0: There will be no significant difference between the scores participants get on the anagram test, despite whether they were in the condition where slow music or none at all was played. ...
Performance was tested by using a sheet of thirty anagrams. ... This was designed to again raise the competition levels during the task. ... The independent variable was the music. One group had slow classical music playing in the background and another had fast dance music. A control group was used in order to compare the results of those who performed the task with music to a group with no independent variables to affect their performance.
Approximate Word count = 4317
Approximate Pages = 17.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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