Question

Listening to music while studying has become a usual practice in the student population. While one group of students claim it would enhance their curricular efficiency, on the other hand, some researchers deny such assumptions. The overall objective of the study was to explore the effect of music on the curricular activity of the student and whether this trend is to rule out it is beneficial to the students in their academic performances. Present study involved 200 Malaysian students representing three major ethnicities. Among them, 120 students prefer to listen to music while studying and remaining 80 were not. The study comprised of two ways of survey namely questionnaire based and experiment based. Data obtained from the responses of participants compiled in the form of graphs and charts 47% believes that music helps them to concentrate while studying. 29% claims that music would keep their mind calm, and 17% stated that it would prevent sleepiness. 78 out of 80 students said that listening to music while studying distract their concentration. Experimental data revealed higher incidence (75%) of correct answers while listening to soft music than other fast track or instrumental music. The positive finding as obtained from the study is relevant to justify the current trend of listening to music while studying as it may not pose any adverse effects on the concentration of student. In fact, it might also improve the performance of the student in their academic perspectives.

Answer the following:

Was the study an experiment or observational study?

What were the explanatory and response variables?

What conclusions were drawn based on the data that was gathered?

How did those conducting the study attempt to reduce bias?

Answer 1

Was the study an experiment or observational study?

- It is given that, The study comprised of two ways of survey namely questionnaire based and experiment based

Thus. this is example of observational study

What were the explanatory and response variables?

- listening to music is explanatory variable whereas academic performances of students is the response variable

What conclusions were drawn based on the data that was gathered?

- Conclusion is drawn as music will not reduce academic performance for students rather it will help to improve it. As indicated in (The positive finding as obtained from the study is relevant to justify the current trend of listening to music while studying as it may not pose any adverse effects on the concentration of student. In fact, it might also improve the performance of the student in their academic perspectives.)

How did those conducting the study attempt to reduce bias?

-  Malaysian students representing three major ethnicities were considered. Two approaches were considered (questionnaire and experiment based).