Experiment on music and language

Aim

To find out whether listening to music in a different language has an effect on performance in an online English vocabulary test.

Hypothesis (directional)

Participants will score higher on the english vocab tests when listening to music with spanish lyrics than those who complete the tests while listening to english lyrics.

Variables

IV - language of lyrics

DV - english vocab skill

Type of experiment

Lab experiment - allows for high levels of control over the manipulation of the IV (language of lyrics). It also allows for confounding variables (e.g. tempo) to be controlled, resulting in high internal validity.

Experimental design

Repeated measures - ensures that participant variables that might affect performance on the online english vocab test are controlled.

Sampling

Opportunity sampling - quick and easy method of gathering participants from our target population e.g. we have access to a class of A level psychology students.

What descriptive statistics were used?

Mean - we chose the mean because it takes into account all of the participants online english vocab test scores into account.

Standard deviation - we chose SD as it is a precise measure of dispersion and it takes into account all of the online english vocab test scores into account. 

What graphical representations were used?

Bar chart - we used a bar chart to display the mean scores on the online english vocab test for each condition which is non continuous data

What statistical test was used?

Wilcoxon rank T test - we used a Wilcoxon signed rank test because we were looking for a difference in test scores when exposed to english and spanish lyrics. We used a repeated measures design as the same group of participants took part in each condition. We gathered ratio data as we were measuring scores on an online english vocab test. 

How did we assess reliability?

Test retest reliability - the same group of psych students to listen to the same song and complete the same english vocab tests at a later date and compare the similarity of the results. If the scores are the same the test has external reliability.

Split half reliability - we could split the scores on the online english vocab test in half e.g. calculating the scores for questions 1-5 and the scores from 6-10 and compare the similarity. If similar, internal reliability is high.

Issues of validity

Demand characteristics - participants were aware that the aim of the study was to find out whether listening to music in a different language will affect English vocab test scores which may have affected how they completed the test. 

How could we assess validity?

Content validity - we could ask an expert in the study of music and language to assess our procedures and measuring tool (online English vocab test) to determine if they are valid.

Face validity - get a naive respondent to look at our measuring tool to see if they can identify what we are measuring.

Ethical issues

Confidentiality - participants scores on the online english vocab test will be anonymised e.g participants will be identified using numbers instead of names

Risk of stress, anxiety, humiliation or pain - participants will be made aware of their right to withdraw themselves or their english vocab test scores if they feel stressed or embarrassed at any point

Valid consent - participants will be made aware that the study aims to investigate the effect of language of lyrics to allow them to make an informed decision about taking part.