What is the effect of jazz/classical music on the heart rate of an individual?
Sample Size
Same age category, 15-17
Over the age of consent
Voluntary participants
Cohort of Stage 1 Psychology students at Glenunga International High School
Sample size can affect the reliability of the results. A larger sample size allows for more data which can support the aim of investigation more thoroughly.
Research question:
To what extent does music affect the heart rate and arousal levels of an individual?
Factors which can affect heart rate levels:
Sample:
What can cause the heart rate to fluctuate?
Mood
Lifestyle
Diet
Stress levels
Internal stimulus
How are they feeling at the time? Are they stressed, relaxed, alone, happy, tired?
Environmental stimulus
Music
Type of music/sound - jazz/classical, rock/techno
Classroom environment:
A quiet environment will promote a more calm and relaxed feeling, thus a decrease in the heart rate.
A loud and energetic environment will promote a higher increase of the heart rate and arousal levels.
Preferences: how students feel about the music - do they enjoy listening to it? If participants are interested in the music they are listening too, they are more likely to immerse themselves in it more deeply.
Music volume: How is it being heard? Is it loud or quiet?
Research design type
Observational: Scientists/researchers observe participants and conclude observational judgements.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Can be bias and subjective
Not stressful or overwhelming for participants
High accuracy of results
Can be affected by uncontrolled and extraneous variables thus impacting the reliability of the results
Cannot generalise the data to the entire population
Experimental: Scientists/researchers manipulate variables to test the probability of a hypothesis.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
High level of control
Easy to replicate and differentiate the cause and effect
Often made up and artificial so can be hard to generalise, increased chance of error
Can cause ethical issues and bias
Qualitative: Scientists/researchers investigate the how and why to specific contexts and insights
Advantages:
A more flexible and new approach leaving more room for interpretation and understanding
Can provide a large amount of data
Disadvantages:
Only a small sample size, inaccurate of the entire population
Can be affected by the researchers view/bias
Variables
IV: Type of music listened too
DV: Impact on heart rate
Controlled Variables:
The specific jazz/classical music soundtrack
Amount of time listening to
Technology used to track heart rate, Garmin Fitness watch
Objective data, obtained by a fitness watch
Jazz/classical music, 10 minute segment
Extraneous Variables
Different types of headphones used
Different volumes listened to
Situational factors
The classroom
Temperature
Socially, i.e were they sitting alone or with friends?
Constant variable - needs to remain the same to reduce the chance of error and minimise the difference each participant may have in their interpretation of the music
Participant factors
What were they doing before the experiment? How relaxed are they?
Personal preference in music
Ethical considerations
Parental consent if necessary, consent from participant
Ability to withdraw at any time
Each student is aware of what they will be experimented for