Jessica H's Research Summary 1

I am part of the “technology group”, and in our current meetings we have decided to put together research on cognitive work. How does technology interfere with everyday life? We wanted to broaden the topic and relate it to everything in human nature. Not necessarily just technology but random things that can take the mind off of work. The name of the project was Sensory Overload! We wanted to focus more on the cognition side of work not memory. The question now is how life takes the visual stimulations and audio stimulations? We broke it up into different sections that each person can take. Visual stimulations include, bright lights flashing lights and sudden movements. The audio simulations included, phone rings, music, familiar voices, and annoying sounds. I was able to take part in music. How does music affect the cognitive work process? Does it help or hold back the mind? Is certain music better than others? Connections to basic research in Cognition A professor is giving a lecture. Students are listening and taking notes, and then a cell phone goes off. Do not worry, it’s on vibrate. How many students just reached for their cell phone? How many just took all of their focus off the lecture and started to wonder if that was for them and what did it say? Even though the phone was on vibrate, it could have been more distracting then if a persons phone would ring? Sensory Overload (group name) is trying to focus on Cognitive work process and the influence of visual and audio distractions. My topic is based on music and how it either hurts or helps the cognitive work process. What type of music, how loud, what are they trying to accomplish? Does different type of music help different parts of the brain? I am trying to find basic research finding that deal with music and cognitive work. Contributions of the research The first article was from Sewell Chan named, Are iPods to Blame for Rising Crime? This article was mostly about the rise in crime rate over the last few years because of iPods. It also went on to say one of the reasons was because iPod users have a lack of sense of their surroundings. Since they are distracted with their iPod music and they wear them in public places, this leaves criminals at an advantage (Chan, S. 2007). New York City police reported a rapid increase of subway crime because these people were unaware of their surroundings (Chan, S. 2007). The second study was about The Effect of background music and background noise on the task performance of introverts and extroverts (Cassidy, G. Macdonald, R. Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. 2007). In this study, they measured music which they ranged from High arousal (HA) to low arousal (LA) (Cassidy, G… 2007). After computing different arousal levels they put the test population through five different cognitive tests with HA and LA. The five tests were: 1.stroop test 2. Immediate recall task 3. Free call task 4. Distractive test 5. Delay recall test (Cassidy, G… 2007). Cassidy also measured the work load of the task. Was it easy or hard? At the end of the day, they discovered a relevant decrease in the test scores with the HA and a harder cognitive test (Cassidy, G… 2007). They test seem to be either high or normal with a LA and average to low/easy work load. They went on to include that they need a higher test study and that they have to take in consideration that different cultures or people might have different views of what type of music is HA or LA (Cassidy, G… 2007). The last study was from Mitchell, L., Macdonald, R., and Knussen, C. a Survey investigation the effects music listening on chronic pain. They sent out a survey to 850 patients from the Glasgow hospital pain clinic and 318 surveys will filled out and returned and all were anonymous (Mitchell, L… 2007). The questions where divided into four topics: 1. Demographics 2. Pain Rating Index of the McGill Pain Questionnaire 3. Short- Form World Health Organization Quality of Life scale 4. Music listening Questionnaire (Mitchell, L… 2007). This study mostly talked about how much people listen to music and if it helps them with pain. They stated the more females might listen to sad music and take in the words, then they are distracted because they start to feel all the pain inside themselves that was brought out from the music (Mitchell, L… 2007). They also stated that music isn’t just a distraction but can help the person get through the day and help them with everyday tasks (Mitchell, L… 2007). Future Directions In my topic I found it hard to find exactly what I need. Most of these researches were in part about my topic but not fully. I need to either narrow it down more or broaden it up to find more results. I need more information about music in the work place or when a student is doing their homework or studying for an exam. Another area I need more of is everyday tasks and their relationship with music. Is it good or bad? I feel that I have contained three research studies that will help my group in the end. In study three, it was interesting reading that some people might get sad or feel pain when they listen to music. These people have high levels of distraction in their life when music is playing. Other people feel that simple tasks are easier with music. In study two I learned about different levels of music and working tasks. In the first study, everyday people were losing their sense of awareness with people around them. I feel that even though I was looking for specific research, all of these seem to help in different ways. With talking to my group we will see if we will broaden the topic or narrow it down. We can’t possibly put all of our research in 4-5 pages. Sensory Overload is Overloaded!! References Cassidy, G., Macdonald, R. (2007). The effect of background music and background noise on the task performance of introverts and extraverts. Society for Education, Music, and Psychology Research. http://pom.sagepub.com Chan, S., (2007). Are iPods to Blame for Rising Crime? Retrieved February 2008. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/are-ipods-to-blame-for-rising-crime/ Mitchell, L., Macdonald, R., and Knussen, C. (2007). Asurvey investigation of the effects of music listening on chronic pain. Society of Education, Music and Psychology Research. http://pom.sagepub.com