Date of Award

1999

Degree Name

Psychology

College

College of Liberal Arts

Type of Degree

M.A.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Roger P. Mooney

Second Advisor

Debra L. Lilly

Third Advisor

Pat Wilkerson

Fourth Advisor

Stephen L. O’Keefe

Abstract

Music was utilized in an attempt to enhance visuospatial memory. Twenty-eight individuals, who attended a United Methodist Church in southern West Virginia, were randomly assigned to experimental and control conditions. The experimental group was exposed to new age and classical compositions, counterbalanced for order effects. The new age and classical selections were of similar tempo and complexity. The control group received two relaxation periods, of a comparable length to the music presented to the experimental group. The 7/24 Spatial Recall Test was used to measure visuospatial memory. The measure was administered to each participant immediately after exposure to the music or the relaxation period. The results of the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not demonstrate a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (F = 3.559, ns). A within subjects E-test found no significant difference between the new age and classical compositions utilized as a treatment within the experimental condition (F = 0.076, ns). The contributing factors that may have been responsible for the findings and avenues for future research in the area are discussed.

Subject(s)

Memory – Effect of music on.

Memory – Research.

Download

Share

COinS