Music, Personality, and Concentration Case Study

This case study investigates the effects of classical and hip-hop music on concentration levels, mediated by extrovert and introvert personality types. The study involved 24 participants aged 18-26 and used the d2 Test of Attention and the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) to measure concentration and personality traits, respectively. The research explored the 'Mozart effect' and the impact of vocal vs. instrumental music. The findings suggest that the impact of classical music is not bound by personality types, and that extroverts perform better with instrumental music. The study also examined the distracting effect of vocals on concentration. The methodology included a 2x4 design, ANOVA analysis, and random stimuli presentation.

Research Topic
To understand the negative effect of classical and
hip hop music on concentration mediated by
extrovert-introvert
Literature Review
Chabris (1999) studies attributed to the “Mozart effect”
appeared to demonstrate the exposure to the composer’s music
can raise IQ scores by as much as 10%. Responses to musical
stimuli vary and are subject to previous experience and
sociocultural influences (Paretz, 2006) as personality
background may have a major influence on the effect of musical
stimuli. In relation to Wofe (1983) findings, another previous
study conducted by Tze and Chou (2010) aimed to compare
classical and hip hop music to determine which type of
background music creates the most amount of interference and
which type of background music creates the least amount of
interference. Factor that needs to be taken into account is the
personality of the individual processing the music (Eysenck,
1952; 1967; 1982). Eysenck developed a very influential model
of personality.
Methodology
Participants
24 Participants selected aged 18-26 years.
Design
Considered 2 (different types of music) x 4
(different conditions) due to 2 types and 4 levels
of music lead to two independent variables.
Materials
Using d2 Test of Attention to measure
concentration level and Eysenck Personality
Inventory (EPI) to assess individual personality
traits.
Method of Analysis
Used AOVA to compare mean difference and d2
test scores.
Procedure
Used Random stimuli presentation and
personality types will be balanced. Tested in
groups. Generic test format used.
References
Chabris, Christopher F. 1999. “Prelude or requiem for the ‘Mozart Effect’?” Nature 400 (26 August 1999), 826-828.
Emery, C. F., Hsiao, E. T., Hill, S. M., & Frid, D. J. (2003). Short-term effects of exercise and music on cognitive
performance among participants in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Heart & Lung, 32, 368 –373. doi:10.1016/S0147-
9563(03)00120-1
Freeburne, C. M., & Fleischer, M. S. (1952). The effect of music distraction upon reading rate and comprehension. The
Journal of Educational Psychology, 43, 101–109.
The Mozart effect: A closer look. Retrieved October 23, 2016, from
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/lerch1/edpsy/mozart_effect.html
Results
Prediction was made that the introverted participants who were
listening to instrumental classical music scored higher than
listening with vocal music background. Similar is with
introverted group.
Conclusion
Research concludes that music impact of classical type is not
bound by personality types.
Abstract
The impact of different music on different personality types are
expected to be different. The introverts and extroverts are
expected to respond to different music. Extroverts mostly
respond to hip-hop and introverts respond mostly to classical.
Introverts find hip-hop to be noisy and irritating. The paper
assessed the impact of hip-hop music and classical music
(Mozart effect) on the personality of the 24 participants. The
results show that the extroverted group show higher score with
instrumental level as their arousal reaches ideal level and they
perform task effectively. Prediction was made that the
introverted participants who were listening to instrumental
classical music scored higher than listening with vocal music
background during the concentration.
Research Question
Does classical music ‘Mozart effect’ only
applied to spatial-temporal task? Would there be
positive effect of hip-hop and classic music
background depending on extrovert-introvert
personality relating to concentration level?
Research Hypotheses
1. Compared to the absence of the vocal in
classical and hip-hop music background, vocal
may have a distracting effect on concentration
test. 2. Putting personality types as an indicator
in classical and hip-hop music, with or without
vocal, may addressed the positive impact of
background music in academic performance
more effectively.