The effect of background music on cognitive performance: Adults with moderate special needs disabilities
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Authors
Meehan, David
Issue Date
2019
Degree
BA (Hons) in Psychology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
1. Abstract The aim of this present study was to examine the effect background music has on the cognitive performance of adults with moderate general learning disabilities. The research sample consisted of 10 adults (6 male; 4 female) with moderate general learning disabilities. To test cognitive performance a shape recognition task was employed for each condition (no music, low-tempo music, high-tempo music). A quantitative within subjects repeated measures ANOVA was used to test if there was a difference in mean response times and accuracy scores between the three conditions. A significant difference was found is response times between the three conditions with high-tempo music having a significantly faster response time than the no music or low-tempo music condition. A significant difference was also found in accuracy scores between the three conditions with the high-tempo condition having significantly more incorrect scores than the no music and low-tempo music conditions.