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The effect of Baroque background instrumental music on academic productivity and on-task performance of elementary behaviorally disordered students
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Baroque instrumental background music on the academic productivity and on-task performance of elementary students labeled as behaviorally disordered. Three male fifth and sixth grade subjects enrolled in a day treatment program for students with severe behavioral problems served as subjects for the study. Subjects listened to an audio tape with prerecorded Baroque instrumental background music played between 65-70 dB. The music was played through headphones during a twenty minute mathematics independent work time. The study utilized a multiple baseline across subjects design. One independent and two dependent variables were examined within the design of the study. The independent variable was Baroque instrumental background music and the dependent variables were academic productivity and on-task performance. The musical treatment was administered after a stable baseline was established for each subject. On-task performance was measured by using a time sampling method of recording on-task behaviors. A frequency count of student on-task behaviors during an independent mathematics work time was recorded by an observer. Academic productivity was measured by the percentage of problems completed correctly on assigned worksheets. Results of the study showed student on-task performance was not increased by the use of Baroque instrumental background music in two of the three subjects. Student academic productivity was not increased by introduction of the musical treatment. The conclusion from this research was that Baroque instrumental background music was not effective in increasing on-task performance or academic productivity with subjects labeled as behaviorally disordered.
Subject Area
Music education|Elementary education|Curricula|Teaching
Recommended Citation
Obrecht, Vicki Lynn Krause, "The effect of Baroque background instrumental music on academic productivity and on-task performance of elementary behaviorally disordered students" (1990). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9121930.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9121930