Right now if you are scrolling down this blog looking for inspiration to write your own blog, you are probably listening to music. If you are reading this for fun, you’re probably listening to music too. Good thing is, you’re not alone. In fact, most students listen to music when doing homework, studying, testing, or simply scrolling.
When I was younger, I always enjoyed plugging my headphones into my iPod while I was doing homework to make it more enjoyable. It was a way for me to be able to knock off a hard task with ease, because music was something that made me happy. Recently, there has been much controversy of the subject of listening to music while doing your homework, and if it actually can help you complete the task to proficiency, or simply just distract you. 
A study was conducted at the University of Wales to look at how music affected students’ ability to recall items in order on a test. “Participants were 25 undergraduates from the ages between 18 and 30. Given that the study relied upon musical preferences, only ones who disliked thrash metal were able to participate.” (Perham and Vizard). Tests were given in five different scenarios, and researchers expected that there would be differences between the quiet environments and the ones blasting music.
The results that they found were surprising, because there was no true answer to their test! The data between each person was extremely varied, implying that it truly does depend on the person and the type of music they are choosing to listen to. If someone enjoys Demi Lovato and puts her music on in the background while completing an assignment, it may help them. If someone does not enjoy Demi Lovato and puts her music on in the background while completing an assignment, it may not help them. It all depends on who the person is and their level of focus beyond distractions. What we do know, is that music has an effect on our state or being: positive or negative.
“Imagine trying to learn something while you’re on a roller coaster,” said Clifford Nass, a professor at Stanford University. “If you’re feeling agitated, you can listen to more calming music, and that will absolutely have a positive effect.” (Alvarez Perspective) Overall, music can help some people accomplish getting their work done, but it can also distract them too. Find what works for you, and take that seriously. You never know, putting on Mozart in the background of studying for your next test may be the difference between getting an A or a B. If you’re like me and know music does help you while you work, put this video on in the background, and you will complete your assignment before you know it.
Sources:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acp.1731/full
I find it interesting that you chose this as your blog topic because I also have asked this question time after time because I cannot do any kind of homework or studying unless I am listening to music. Ever since middle school I have listened to music every single time I did school work, and because I have done it for so long it has become like an involuntary action for me. I automatically put on music when its homework time, and if i don’t have music on it is actually harder for me to concentrate and do my work. Just the other day I was having trouble starting my english paper and I realized I didn’t have music on and as soon as I put music on the ideas started flowing. For me, I think its a positive distraction for my brain if that makes sense. The music takes my mind off of the topic at hand to the degree that I am not stressing over it or concentrating too hard, but it doesn’t distract it to the point were it affects the quality of my work. Like that study I would agree that it all depends on the person. For me it works, for my brother it doesn’t, it really is just a matter of preference. A study I would find very interesting is one that tests how each genre of music affects a student. If one were to expose a single student to different genres of music at a time while they are studying and expose them to the same memory exam as the study you talked about, I think it would be interesting to see how each type of music affects the study efficiency of the student!
The question you were answering in this post was bothering me for a long time. I never really understood when person does his hoework with headphones on. Personally I always feel disturbed and I concentrate more on the music itself rather than homewrk. In the end music can either work for or against you. Everything depends on person’s preferences and character which totally makes sense.
This is really interesting! I always wondered if listening to music really helped when it came to studying and I also wondered if it mattered what kind of music you listen to makes a difference. But it makes total sense that it depends on the person and their preferences.