Materials:
Laptop
Headphones
1 Heavy metal song
1 Classical song
Method:
The subjects underwent an online reaction rate test that determined their response to a change in visual stimuli (they have to click the mouse once the light on the screen changes from red to green). Before beginning the trials, the procedure of the test was explained to them and they were allowed a practice test to familiarize them with the procedure of the test and what they were expected to do. Each subject underwent 5 trials for each 3 conditions: presence of no music, heavy metal, and classical. 5 trials were conducted with the subject no listening to any music but with the headphones still one and their reaction time and average were recorded by the online test itself. A Heavy metal song was then played continually throughout the 5 trails of reaction test, and the same procedure was followed for the classical music.
Results
Processed Data:
The reaction rate was measured by a timer provided by the online reaction rate test. The uncertainty is 0.01 which is the lowest value measurable in seconds.
Example Calculation to Find Mean for Subject 1 Reaction Time with No Music:
Mean = (0.413+0.391+0.530+0.377+0.642) ÷5
= (2.353) ÷5
= 0.471
Results:
Overall, the presence of music caused a slower response and therefore a decrease in reaction rate compared with the presence of no music. Heavy metal caused a slower reaction rate than classical music, but both were slower than the reaction rate in the presence of no music.
There was some variations as can be seen in subject 2 were the rate of reactions in the presence of metal and classical were nearly identical and in subject 5 were classical music caused the slowest reaction time.
Conclusion:
The experiment does support the hypothesis for the presence of either genres of music does decrease the reaction rate. Furthermore, in the majority of the subjects the presence of heavy metal caused a slower reaction rate than the classical music. The presence of music must have affected the neural pathway by affecting the organisms processing ability of the stimulus. Since heavy metal is much more cacophonic it would have been more of a distraction than the more relaxing classical music. However, the presence of music overall seems to have caused a distraction and therefore influences the response rate. However, there is a variation of the results which does effect the conclusion that can be made on how music affects reaction time. The reaction rate of subjects in the presence of classical music was varied which might correspond to their liking of the music or not, or if doing the previous trials influenced their performance in the test. Since there is a very high P value, 68.9%, it can be concluded there is a very small effect of music on reaction rate.
Evaluation:
Most of the values were precise since they ranged from values between 0.2-0.5 seconds.
The major random error that occurred was the subjects were in a room filled with a class performing different tasks, which caused both visual and auditory distraction since people were moving around and talking. This added another distraction to the subjects and it is uncertain if the subjects were distracted by them or not.
Another source of random error was that there were different lapse times between when the music started and when the test was started for each subject. This was because the music and test were both on the computer. Before the subject could begin the test, the music would be played, the music player’s screen would be closed, and then the subject could start the test. The time lapse between this did vary and thereof the point in the music in which each subject began the test was different.
Also, the subjects have to repeat the test 15 times. This repetition might have increased the subject’s performance on the test as they became more familiar with it. Since each condition was tests in the same pattern (no music, metal, and then classical), the values for the reaction rate of the classical music might have been faster because the subjects were more familiar with the test rather than the music’s actual presence.
Furthermore, I did notice that people who enjoyed the heavy metal had a quicker reaction rate compared to subjects that did not like the heavy metal.
Improvements:
The experiment should be done in an empty room that is sound proof to eliminate as many other possible external distractions. This will allow a better evaluation on the presence of music as an external influence to a response.
To decrease the lapse time between the music played and the test, two devices could be used. One device would play the music which is connected to the headphones and the other device would be for the online reaction rate test only. This way, the test would be visible on the subject’s screen, and someone could begin playing the music on the other device. This would allow the subject to begin the test instantly once they hear the music rather than listening to the music for a while and then starting the test.
To determine whether repetition has an effect on reaction rate, another bench line test should be conducted in the presence of no music to see the effect repetition has on the reaction rate of the response. Or, the subjects could have breaks between each condition rather than having each test conducted one after another with no break.
Also, to determine the effect the presence of different genres of music have on individuals it would be good to divide the subjects into groups who like certain genres of music, such as metal, and those who do not like it. This will allow one to observe how the likability of the music affects reaction time, since it would most likely be less distracting to people who enjoy the specific music.
Further variables that could be considered are investigating the effect of different music genres such as jazz, pop, and techno. Also, the effect of the volume of the music or the volume of different types of music could be on reaction rate could be investigated.
The experiment should also have used more subjects in order to obtain a wider spread of data to see if the presence of music is significant and this would most likely lower the P-value.
Appendices:
Heavy Metal Song: “In the Arms of Perdition” by the Despised
Classical Music Song: “Tristesse” by Chopin
Table 1. Raw Data results of reaction time in the presence of no music, heavy metal, and classical
