A RT S & C U LT U R E / M O S A I C / M A Y 6 , 2 0 1 5

How does music affect study habits?

One thing that college students understand is the importance of optimizing study
habits. With so much homework and studying to do, and such limited time to do it
especially after accounting for other time-consuming commitments such as clubs,
volunteering, work and sportsdorm-dwellers have become veritable experts at
finding fun ways to increase productivity.
Given the ability of music to stimulate both the right and left sides of the brain, it is
no surprise that it has become one of the main conduits through which students finetune their cognitive performance. Nonetheless, there are some drawbacks to this
practice. A recent experiment, conducted by Carol A. Smith and Larry W. Morris of
Middle Tennessee State University, revealed that students who listened to their
preferred type of lyrical music whilst taking a series of tests did not perform as well
as did students who listened to sedative music. This is conjectured to be the result of
the distracting nature of the lyrics of a familiar and preferred song, which can evoke
emotions and memories and thus divert attention away from the task at hand.
Freshman Iman Ghosh, who enjoys listening to music while studying, confirms this
phenomenon: I listen to electronic music like techno, sometimes [I listen to]
dubstep, but I only listen to music that is without words and singing, because if
theres words and singing I cant concentrate.
Freshman Sam Glotfelty has a similar experience: Stuff with lyrics usually distracts
mesometimes classical music helps, he says. However, that still doesnt stop him
from listening to hip hop and rap every now and then to liven up his studies.
Despite the similarity between these two students, the disparity between the effects
of music with lyrics and music without lyrics on cognitive function varies from person
to person, and, as conjectured by Anna Bradley and Adrian Furnham of University
College London, depends primarily on personality type. In a psychological study
conducted by Furnham and Bradley in October of 1997, subjects were asked to
complete a memory test along with a reading comprehension test whilst listening to
various forms of music. The results determined that while lyrical music is generally a
detriment to the test-taking abilities of both introverts and extroverts, it is more of a
distraction for introverts. Furthermore, they determined that in some cases lyrical
music and background noise in general actually improved the test-taking abilities of
extroverts.
The effects of music on cognitive function does not vary solely based on the
presence of lyrics. Another factor that comes into play is the tone, or feel, if you
will, of the music in question. A study conducted in 2002 exposed children of ages
seven to ten to calm, relaxing music as they took a series of arithmetic and memory
tests, and then loud, aggressive music while they took similar tests. Afterwards the
children took the same tests in silence. The results showed that calming music
greatly enhanced test-taking abilities, while aggressive music served as a

distraction. However, this study neglected to take into account different personality
types, thus it is yet unknown if this affects both introverts and extroverts equally.
Overall, it is safe to say that music in general greatly improves cognitive function
and productivity.
It definitely helps me focus more; so over a short period I get more work done,
says Ghosh. Although lyrical music has its drawbacks in some cases, based on the
personality type of an individual it can be just as helpful as non-lyrical music. So
before you replace Stromae with Beethoven, make sure youre choosing the music
that is best for you.

HESPERA PURDIN
-benefits of listening to music
-affects to our study habits
-can release our stress
-benefits of affects to our body health
Problem statement -does music improve our study habits
-does music can release our stress
-does music improve our body health
-does music affects the brain
Hypothesis-music does improve our study habits if we listening to sedative music
-music does reduce stress of our daily life
-music makes you smarter, happier and more productive at any age
-music can uplift our soul and improve our body health

Background of study of music

Many KMPP students listen to music to alleviate the emotional effects of stress and anxiety when
engaged in complex cognitive processing, such as studying for a test, completing homework
assignments, or while reading and writing. This practice is so common that it would be beneficial
for KMPP students to understand the role that music plays on cognitive performance. Research
demonstrating the effects of music on performance is well documented, but have shown
ambiguous evidence on this matter. In studies conducted to learn about the effects of musical
distraction on cognitive task performance, the findings have demonstrated the idea of music
improving cognitive performance (Cockerton, Moore, & Norman, 1997), but there has also been
research contradicting those results, where music was found distracting for participants
performing cognitive tasks (Furnham & Bradley, 1997). However, with the plethora of music
genres available to music listeners, it is important to understand how different types of music
impact performance. Additionally, very few studies address the interaction between the intensity
or volume of the music played and its effect on cognitive processing. The present study aims to
understand the effect of listening to different genres of music played at different volume levels on
cognitive task performance.
Many KMPP students choose to listen to a preferred genre of music when they study or do their
homework without understanding the potential harmful effects of such practice. A study
conducted by Smith and Morris (1977) addressed this question by studying the effects of
sedative and stimulate music. The study focused on the influence these two distinct genres of
music have on performance, anxiety, and concentration. Student had to indicate their preferred
genre and were requested to repeat a set of numbers backwards while listening to either the
stimulate, sedative, or no music. The results indicated that student performed worse while
listening to their preferred type of music. Additionally, in the no music condition, student
performed best. These results indicate that a preferred type of music can serve as a distracting
factor when one is engaged in a cognitively demanding task perhaps due to the fact that less
cognitive resources are available when the attention is drawn to the lyrics, emotions, and
memories that such music can evoke. Student who listened to sedative music performed better
than student who listened to simulative music and worse than those who listened to no music at
all. These results indicated that stimulate music is a stronger distractor and obstructs cognitive
processing more than sedative music does.

Although music does bring negative effects to our life, most KMPP student still
prefer to listen to music because they agree that the benefits of music is more
than the negative effects that music brings to us. Some KMPP student have
proved that listening to music while studying enhance their working
performance.

Front page
Penang matriculation college
Logo picture
Academic writing
WB013
Semester/2016/17
(title)
Member group
Practicum[H4P3/P4]
Lecturer
_________
Date of submission: august 2016

1.Introduction
1.1-backgroud study
1.2-research objective/s
1.3-research question/s
1.4-hypothesis

2.literature review
3.methodology
Survey using questionnaire.
Who are the respondents?
How many?
Gender? Female or male?

4. data analysis

1. 2/3 graphs (pie/bar)

2. Brief explanation of the data in relation to the research questions

5. Conclusion
6. Reference:

Background of study of music

Many KMPP students listen to music to alleviate the emotional effects of stress and anxiety when
engaged in complex cognitive processing, such as studying for a test, completing homework
assignments, or while reading and writing. This practice is so common that it would be beneficial
for KMPP students to understand the role that music plays on cognitive performance. Research
demonstrating the effects of music on performance is well documented, but have shown

ambiguous evidence on this matter. In studies conducted to learn about the effects of musical
distraction on cognitive task performance, the findings have demonstrated the idea of music
improving cognitive performance (Cockerton, Moore, & Norman, 1997), but there has also been
research contradicting those results, where music was found distracting for participants
performing cognitive tasks (Furnham & Bradley, 1997). However, with the plethora of music
genres available to music listeners, it is important to understand how different types of music
impact performance. Additionally, very few studies address the interaction between the intensity
or volume of the music played and its effect on cognitive processing. The present study aims to
understand the effect of listening to different genres of music played at different volume levels on
cognitive task performance.
Many KMPP students choose to listen to a preferred genre of music when they study or do their
homework without understanding the potential harmful effects of such practice. A study
conducted by Smith and Morris (1977) addressed this question by studying the effects of
sedative and stimulate music. The study focused on the influence these two distinct genres of
music have on performance, anxiety, and concentration. Student had to indicate their preferred
genre and were requested to repeat a set of numbers backwards while listening to either the
stimulate, sedative, or no music. The results indicated that student performed worse while
listening to their preferred type of music. Additionally, in the no music condition, student
performed best. These results indicate that a preferred type of music can serve as a distracting
factor when one is engaged in a cognitively demanding task perhaps due to the fact that less
cognitive resources are available when the attention is drawn to the lyrics, emotions, and
memories that such music can evoke. Student who listened to sedative music performed better
than student who listened to simulative music and worse than those who listened to no music at
all. These results indicated that stimulate music is a stronger distractor and obstructs cognitive
processing more than sedative music does.

Although music does bring negative effects to our life, most KMPP student still
prefer to listen to music because they agree that the benefits of music is more
than the negative effects that music brings to us. Some KMPP student have
proved that listening to music while studying enhance their working
performance.

Researched Objective
To identify either KMPPs student often listen to music
To investigate how music improve KMPPs student life.
To identify whether listening to music leads to good
academic results.

Problem Statement
Does music affect our life in a negative way?
Does music improve our study habits?
Does music can release our stress?
Does music improve our body health?
Does music affect the brain?

Hypothesis
Music does improve our study habits if we listening to
sedative music.
Music does reduce stress of our daily life.
Music makes you smarter, happier and more productive
at any age.
Music can uplift our soul and improve our body health.

Questionnaire:

1) How often do you listen to music?

I didnt listen to music before.
Less than an hour a day
1-2 hours a day
2-3 hours a day
3-4 hours a day
Never stop listening to music

2) What type of music do you typically listen to?

Pop
Rock
Rap
Classical
Country
Others
3) Do you listen to music while studying? If so, is
it effective?
Yes

No

4)Does the music that you listen to affect the

mood?
Yes

No

5) Do you think music that you listen can

influence the type of people that you hang
around?
Yes

No

6) Do the type people around you influence the

type of music you listen to?
Yes

No

7) In your opinion, are you going to feel happier

after listening to a song about love or a song
about death?
Love

death

emotion

How often do you listen to music

6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Most people listen to music less than an hour a day

while moderate people listen to music for one to two
hours a day and three to four hours a day. Only one
people listen to music without stopping.
What type of music do you usually listen to
8
7

6
5
4

3
2

1
0

1
pop

rock

2
1

rap

classical

country

others

Most people listen to other music instead of pop,

rock, rap, classical and country. About five people
love to listen to pop music. Only two people love
to listen to rap and country music while only one
people like to listen to rock and classical music
simultaneously.

Do you listen to music while studying

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

yes

no

According to the analysed data, most people do

not listen to music when they are studying.
Music affect the mood
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

yes

no

About nine people agree that music does affect

the mood of the listeners among fourteen H4P3
and H4P4 students.

Music influence people

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

yes

no

Most people do not agree that music influences people in the form of their own
behaviour.

Do the type people around you influence the type of music you listen to
12
10

10
8
6
4

2
0

yes

no

Ten people strongly disagree that the type of music you listen to is influenced by
the people that surrounds you.

You feel after listening to music

12

11

10
8
6
4
2

2
0

1
love

death

emotion

Eleven people feel loved after listening to love music. Just one typical people feel
death after listening to music while only one people feel emotional after listening
to music.

Methodology
Respondents
There are approximately 19 students of H4P3/H4P4 students . 14 students are
chosen randomly and the questionnaires are distributed equally to the male and
female students of students racers.
Instrument
For this research,the instrument used is questionnaires that is self constructed.
The questionnaires consist of 7 questions with multiple choices as answer.
Questions based on the influence of music of students KMPP.
Research Procedure
The questionnaires are distributed randomly to 14 respondents of4 male and 10
female of H4P3/H4P4 students in Penang Matriculation College. The
questionnaires are distributed before the lecture starts and by the end of the
class the questionnnaires are collected and analysed the respondents are given
around 1 hour to answer the questionnaires.

CONCLUSION

Our objective to identify whether KMPP students often listen to music is

achieved. They did listen to music but it is just for a short period. Music has
improved KMPP students life in many ways and they feel happier with the
presence of music. According to our analysed data, music does improve overall
academic results of KMPP students. Besides, music not only helps in improving
academic results, but it also helps to release stress, improve body health and
inculcate study habits in the students themselves.

Penang Matriculation
College
Academic Writing
WB013
Semester 1 2016/2017
How Music Affects
Students life
Group Members
Name

Matrics No.

Muhammad Aqmar Fiqhi Bin Roslan

MS1613609464
Chong Sui Huat
Khadijah binti Khairudin
MS1613609708

MS1613673397

NUR ATIQAH BINTI MOHAMAD RAPI

MS1613607672
Mohamad Adib Hilman Bin Mohd Zin
MS1613607592
Lecturer: Miss Wahidah Binti Majid
Reference
http://www.gotoquiz.com/music_survey_quiz
Book: A guide to WRITING REPORTS