Music Lessons Enchance IQ - Essay Example

Music Lessons Enhance IQ Introduction The Introduction presents existing theories and relevant past research studies providing the bases for the current research problem. Statements of the expected results are made at the end of the Introduction. a) What is the Mozart effect? Mozart effect presents findings that passive listening to music by Mozart increases spatial abilities. Listening to music composed by Mozart enhance positive moods that increases high performance on spatial abilities test. b) What is the main purpose of this research study? The purpose of this research study is to investigate whether music lessons have benefits, which extend beyond nonmusical areas of cognition. The research focus on the unique effect that music lessons enhance to people especially boosting verbal memory, mathematics achievement, reading ability, and selective attention. c) The author identified many past research findings that were consistent with the hypothesis that music lessons promote intellectual development. However, the author argued that in order to establish a causal association between music lessons and IQ that is specific to music, it was important to rule out potentially confounding factors. Describe any two of several issues raised by the author that highlights a problem relating to a potentially confounding factor. The confounding factors raised by the article are that music lesson would boost musical aptitude and the nonmusical abilities linked with aptitude. The article points out confounding factors such as socioeconomic status, education, IQ have a strong effect on IQ. Additionally, the extracurricular activities such as drama and sport strongly effect on the IQ. The parsimonious explanation of the two factors is that they stem from the general intelligence. For instance, children who have high IQs are more likely to take music than other children because more affluent and better educated parents would encourage their children to take music lessons. d) Identify the four experimental conditions in this experimental study. The quasi experimental and correlation studies demonstrate that music lessons boost verbal memory, reading ability, spatial ability, mathematics achievement, and selective attention. e) Briefly explain the rationale behind having the four experimental conditions. The experiment provided a test of the hypothesis that music lesson increase IQ. To test this, there was a random assignment of two different groups. One of the group received music lessons in a year and the other received instruction on the nonmusical artistic activities. The use of two groups helped the researchers to assess the possible effect of music on nonmusical and instruction aspects. f) Identify all three tests administered in this study and explain the rationale behind the use of each test. The three tests administered were the Wechsler Intelligence Scale used to test childhood intelligence, a standardized test that examined whether changes in IQ enhanced intellectual improvement, and social functioning test that evaluated whether music lessons increases intellectual development. Method The Method section of an experimental study is usually divided into the following Subsections–Participants, Materials/Apparatus, Design, and Procedure. The present journal article only has the Participants section and the Measures and Procedure section. a) In the Participants section, it is reported that 144 children were recruited for the experimental study yet the data analysis only included data from 132 children. State the explanation for this discrepancy. During the analysis, the sample of the research included 144 children who were randomly divided into four groups of the experimental study. Two groups relieved either Kodaly voice or standard keyboard lessons for 1 year. The two control groups received no lessons or dram lessons. Unfortunately, 12 children discontinued taking the music lessons and thus never completed the experiment of IQ testing. As a result, the analyses include a data of 132 children. b) In the Measures and Procedure section, it is reported that the tests were re-administered the following summer. Explain why the test administrators were unaware of the conditions to which the children were assigned. Note: Refer to textbook Chapter 1 under section 1.3 Controlling Biases in Psychological Research (pp. 31-32). The test administrators were unaware of the conditions to which the children were assigned because the WISC-111 test does not provide the children norms less than six years. As a result, the administrators could not understand the children conditions. Results The Results section reports the descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the statistical analysis can be complicated and difficult to understand especially if you are not familiar with the statistical tests used. For the purpose of this assignment, let us not be too concerned with the statistical analyses involved. a) Describe the key finding concerning intellectual development based on the result of the four groups. The findings indicated that, music lessons increases the IQ, but nonmusical activities do not have such an effect. With this, the results indicated that music lessons are crucial in enhancing intellectual development. c) Describe the key finding concerning social behavior. In the drama group, there were improvements in social behavior. Those who participated in drama groups, improved in their social skills and behavior. Discussion The Discussion section presents a discussion of the results with respect to the research question set out in the Introduction. It also addresses the theoretical implications of the results. a) It was highlighted in the Discussion section that music lessons, unlike comparable nonmusical activities, lead to small increases in IQ. Select the correct answer: True or False? True b) The transfer effect observed from music lesson to IQ is considered a far effect Select the correct answer: near effect or far effect c) Use OneSearch (in MyUniSIM Blackboard) to search for any journal article on the topic of IQ and music. In not more than 500 words, discuss the key findings of your chosen article in relation to the current TMA01 article by Schellenberg (2004). Note: • The word limit is 500 words. Content beyond 550 words will not be marked. • The full reference of your chosen article must be presented as part of the References required in Question 7a. In the article entitled Transformative music invention: Interpretive redesign through music dialogue in classroom practices 2012, Tomlinson Michelle emphasizes on the unique nature of music in promoting transformation and inclusiveness learning. In her article, Michelle argue that music is paramount in the curriculum because it provides opportunities for learning that promotes cognitive development in critical reflection, synthesis of ideas, and problem solving. Children who exposed to music are more creative and their IQ develops gradually. This article aims to further examine how young children in rural schools utilize music for cognitive and intellectual development. Home practices and community music activities connect children to understand the world they are living in. Music is important in childhood stage because it creates a favourable learning environment that attracts the child to understand the teachings and identity construction in and out of the classroom. In relation to the article by Schellenberg (2004), Michelle (2012) supports the fact that music lessons are crucial in curriculum because they enhance the IQ. Michelle’s article emphasize that, music lessons involves interaction with the family, media, friends, and the physical world. The article continues to highlight the importance of exposing children to music as this makes them to understand new forms of literacy and culture. As a result, this creates an ongoing learning development for future experiences. According to Michelle (2012), children who participate in music develop intellectually and in their ways of expression. Unlike Schellenberg’s article, Michelle explored the importance of music invention through multiple methods such as videos of groups’ music activities and field research on various events such as home music invention and recorded discussions of music with children and parents. The mentioned methods of data collection contributed to a better understanding of the importance of music events in different scenarios and areas. The researchers examined the subject in different locations such rural schools, inner city, and private college. The video clips were used to explore the overall impact of music invention functions of social and motor interaction, emotional, and cognitive interaction taking place. Recordings were important in analyzing the importance of music in context with body posture, gesture, and facial expression. The study supported the Schellenberg’s discussion that music lessons have a strong effect on children intellectual development. In the school setting, this research reveals that children are more innovative in providing musical motifs or ideas. As they interact with one another, they become competent in language and social skills. Overall, the findings indicated that children were competent when they transmitted their ideas and experiences in music. Music lessons increases the IQ while drama lessons enhances a favorable effects on psychological and social behavior. In relation to the Schellenberg’s article, this article supports the fact that music lessons are crucial in developing the children’s IQ. Additionally, the two articles demonstrate a common understanding that extra-curriculum activities boost social behavior. Based on the findings collected from the two articles, it is evident that music is important in enhancing the child IQ. Abstract The Abstract is a concise summary of the whole article and appears at the beginning of the article. It contains key information about the research study such as, the purpose/aim of the study, the research design, research hypotheses, results, and some concluding statements about the implications of the results. a) On a 5-point rating scale ranging from 1 = ‘poor’ to 5 = ‘excellent’, how would you rate the Abstract of this article? In no more than 100 words, provide reasons for your rating. Note: The word limit is 100 words. Content beyond 110 words will not be marked. I would rate the abstract of this article 5. This is because the abstract provides adequate facts and information that the reader needs to understand before reading the entire document. In brief, the abstract presents the main purpose of the research thus, providing a clear guideline of what one expects in the entire research. The abstract is also excellent because it create awareness on the name of the journal article, the date of publication, volume number, and the page numbers. The awareness of the key words allows deeper insights of what makes this research to be successful and effective. References Schellenberg, G.E. (2004). Music Lessons Enhance IQ. The American Psychological Society, 15 (8), 511-513. Tomlinson, M. (2012). Transformative Music Invention: Interpretive Redesign Through Music Dialogie in Classroom Practices, Australian Journal of Music Education, (1), 42-56 Read More