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The Impact of Classical Music Upon Heart Rate - Coggle Diagram
The Impact of Classical Music Upon Heart Rate
Ethics
Informed Consent
Each participant was required to provide written consent. Those under 16 also required parental consent to maintain ethical principles. Informed consent was also assisted through the provision of an information sheet regarding the experiment and topic of arousal itself. Participants already possessed an extent of prior knowledge regarding arousal, further providing this informed consent
Voluntary Participation / Right to Withdraw
Participation was optional for all of the sample, allowing students to withdraw at any time throughout the duration of the experiment
Confidentiality
Confidentiality was maintained by only recording results using ID numbers. This was important to ensure that participants were accurately recording their data and were not afraid of their opinions / statistics being shared
Accurate Recording
Accurate recording was dependent upon the honesty of participants to document their data appropriately. It was presumed that all recorded data possessed validity, however there was possibility for discrepancies.
Do not Harm / Debrief
There was no risk of harm during this experiment, eliminating the need to debrief participants. No participants were identified as suffering any form of harm.
Variables
Controlled Variables
Time frame of listening
Each participant listened for 10 minutes to maintain consistency and measure their heart rates at the same time intervals.
Heart rate recording technology (Garmin smartwatch)
It was important to measure BPM using the same technology to allow for fair data collection and accurate comparison.
People in the sample
All participants were Sace Stage 1 Psychology Glenunga Students, being important to maintain a similar age group and previous knowledge.
Music tracks
All of the music tracks were the same to ensure that each participant endured the same musical experience.
Extraneous Variables
Placebo Effect
Participants all possessed prior knowledge of arousal and hence many had existing beliefs that the classical music would decrease their heart rate. This could have influenced results due to the pure belief that the music would lessen the individuals' heart rate.
Participant Variables
Individuals possess varying stress levels and resting heart rates, creating slight inconsistencies between increasing/decreasing heart rates. While the BPMs were averaged to determine an accurate representation, this value may have been different if these participant variables were considered.
Situational Variables
The experiments were conducted on different days, in different classrooms with different people, possibly impacting the validity of results by altering the BPM based on these differences.
Dependent Variable - Heart Rate
Advantages
This form of data collection is reilable as it is a discrete numerical value
Eliminates bias as it is an objective quantity
Disadvantages :
Heart rate can be influenced by many differing factors other than the music arousal. This could include the stress or events leading up to the experiment conduction, the weather, emotional situation or physical health issues.
A complex analysis of the musical impact upon an individual was not possible.
Heart rate was recorded using Garmin Smartwatches to measure BPM, being objective quantitative data. Subjective qualitative data was also recorded by determining participants' music preference
Independent Variable
The heart rate of participants was measured before and after listening to the different types of music.
Musical preferences were recorded to determine if this factor influences arousal / heart rate
Investigation Design: Experimental Design
Advantages
The singular independent variable was able to be properly assessed and manipulated
Objective quantitative data was able to be collected to prevent basing results on only subjective measures (limits bias)
The experiment can be repeatedly conducted without issue
The relationship between the independent and dependent variables can be properly investigated
Disadvantages
The experiment was only conducted once, hence creating a possibility for this experiment to be an inaccurate representation
The collected information cannot be used to form conclusions regarding large groups or populations outside of the classroom setting
Weaknesses / Limitations
Technology
Different laptops and headphones were used by each participant, causing a variation between sound quality and volume, influencing the overall sound experience. A pre decided volume and the distribution of the same headphone model could solve this weakness.
Looping the Music
Participants had to repeat the music to ensure the track was played for the whole 10 minutes, interrupting their listening experience and perhaps causing an increased stress level and hence an elevated heart rate. Editing the track to be already looped or finding a longer track could be a solution.
Method
Many chose not to close their eyes during the conduction of the experiment, causing their heart rate to be influenced by outside stimulus. However, this was the individual participants' responsibility and was not a design fault. Blindfolds or dimming the lights could assist with this issue.
Situations
Each of the classes conducted the experiment in different settings at different times, causing situational variables to impact the results and reduce accuracy when forming comparisons. Completing the experiment collectively at one time would increase validity.
Garmin Smartwatches
The smartwatches were adjusted at varying tightness levels on each participant's wrist, possibly impacting accuracy of the recorded BPM
Sample
Population: 15-17yr old high school students in Adelaide
Sample: 81 Sace Stage 1 Psychology Students at Glenunga International High School
Does not effectively represent the larger population due to the small sample size
Only psychology students were included, therefore the formulated results are only applicable to them rather than the larger population due to bias
Students aged 15-17 should participate in the experiment from schools all across Adelaide to improve accuracy
As only psychology students were included, the students already had an understanding of arousal and hence creating a placebo effect with their results
Further Research
How do other stimuli (e.g. caffeine) influence heart rate
How does classical music impact performance (especially under test conditions)?
Does classical music impact memory?
How does classical music impact mood?
Which types of music have the most positive impact upon mood? Is it dependent on the person?
How does heart rate change across the 10 minute period of listening to classical music?
How do different temperatures impact heart rate?
Can arousal also be measured using blood pressure?