Suggestions for the Project

In order to determine if the data I am collecting is valid, I need a control group. Suggestions on how to set up the control group is appreciated.
Thank you Mr. Steiner for the data you included on the link provided at my blog address. You Rock!

My Research by Christian Fowler

Here is what one researcher is saying about the results of listening to music and its impact on the brain . . . from the book: The Bible Memory by Gary Small on page 85 & 86 he writes of the "The Mozart Effect."

Children/preteens that are exposed to Mozart piano sonata have improved thinking ability, especially in the areas that involve spatial cognitive skills such as doing origami and activities that include following patterns.

Researchers believe that listening to music helps to temporarily organize thinking. The mental processes involved in listening to music activates a neural network that is shared with spatial reasoning processes.

"We know music can elevate a person's mood, and a better mood certainly can sharpen mental ability-a depressed person is often distracted and unable to focus on mental tasks."


Even without definitive proof, the potential for a benefit and the minimal risk involves convinces me that listening to classical music may be a worthwhile habit for us all. My hypothesis is that students who listen to music while taking a test or quiz will perform better because the music will reduce the stress students are under these days with taking tests.

Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as Music Therapy, which uses music to heal. Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring. This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways. The following are some of effects of music, which help to explain the Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and a slower tempo promoting a calm, meditative state. Also, research has found that the change in brainwave activity levels that music can bring can also enable the brain to shift speeds more easily on its own as needed, which means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening. effectiveness of music therapy. From google.com

The Process . . .

OK, 1st give the students a test. I would like the test to be a chapter test or mid-charter review or even a quiz. I have selected various types of instrumental genres to include: classical, pop, classic rock and folk. If you have a preference of the music, let me know by Friday, November 6th. Either call or email me with your choice of music. If you have your own music let me know, as well. My contact information is on the letter sent by my mom through the school system.

On the day of the test, play the music. After the tests are graded, visit the blogspot and take a short survey. The link is posted on the right sidebar of my blog.

Thanks for your participation. Repeat this process as many times as you are willing until December 18, 2009.

Rock on . . . .

Project Timeline

Purpose
The purpose of this project is to determine if listening to certain music (while taking a test) affects test scores.
Christian Fowler
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
P.3


For completing this particular research experiment the following items are needed:


• Classical Music on a CD
• A CD player
• A class of students you can work with
• A letter for a teacher
• An email address for communication
• A survey for teachers to fill out
• Research books (library)
• (Optional) A website to collaborate with followers

Procedures for beginning the project/research:

• Write a letter explaining the research you want to conduct. In this case I want to find out if music played in the classroom while students are being tested would improve their test scores.
• Deliver the letters to your teacher to see who wants to participate in the research project.
• Request that the teachers communicate with you through email (or by the website).
• Once you have all the teachers who can participate with the project . . . let the music play.
• Supply each teacher with a music CD. I chose instrumentals only: classical, folk and jazz.
• Write out the directions so each teacher provides the same type of environment for each class.
• Next have the teacher play the CD in the CD player while students are taking the test.
• Request that the teachers give you the data. I have three ways they can share their students' test results: 1) write out on paper and hand to me, 2) send me an email with the results, or 3) complete the QUIA survey that is available on my blog at http://my6thgradesciencefairproject.blogspot.com
• The information I am gathering is: how many earned an A, B, C, D or F on the test.
• The first set of numbers are my base line data.
• each time the tests are given the process and procedures are repeated.
• During the testing period, visit the library and research on meditation, relaxation, music and the brain.
• Read the newspaper to find out if there are any studies currently researched by others for example music theropy.

The Initial Process

first - write letter to teachers requesting support for my project.

second - select music and burn music on a cd

third - create a online survey for teachers to complete after a class exam

fourth - begin to research student test anxiety

fifth - research the effects music has on stressed out students

Hypothesis

Does playing certain music during an examination affect test scores?