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Browne, Robyn (2023) An Analysis of the Influence of Background Music on the Sustained Attention of College Students using the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART). Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.
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Abstract
Aims: In order to better understand the way in which background music influences cognitive states such as sustained attention, this study set out to examine attentional states during the sustained attention to response task (SART) between music present and music absent conditions. This study aimed to expand on the current research of the influence of background music on attention, as the existing findings have conflicting evidence that supports both sides of the argument of whether or not background music improves attention. The final aim of this study was to investigate the range of the inverted U curve of attention and arousal in the context of the SART. It was hypothesized that an effect will be seen in the music present condition in some capacity. Method: The SART was completed by all of the participants (n= 30) in both music present and music absent conditions. Differences in reaction time (RT), number of errors, as well as difficulty, and interest in the task were measured between conditions, age, and gender. Results: The main finding in this study indicated a significant difference in the number of errors made between conditions as fewer errors were made in the SART during the music present condition when compared to the music absent condition. Investigations into differences in RT, difficulty, and interest between conditions did not yield significant results. Additionally, a relationship between RT and the number of errors between gender and age did not result in a significant finding. Conclusion: The findings from this study indicate that background music may have a positive influence on attention as it reduced the number of errors made by participants in the sustained attention task.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Undergraduate) |
|---|---|
| Supervisors: | Name Email Kelly, Michelle UNSPECIFIED |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education M Music and Books on Music > M Music B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Cognition |
| Divisions: | School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology |
| Depositing User: | Tamara Malone |
| Date Deposited: | 31 May 2023 15:34 |
| Last Modified: | 31 May 2023 15:34 |
| URI: | https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/6691 |
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