Can listening to Mozart music improve children’s math performance? The mediating role of anxiety and visuospatial working memory

Oi Ying LEUNG

Research output: ThesisBachelor's Theses

Abstract

Objectives: The main goal of this study is to examine whether children can improve their performance in Mathematics by listening to Mozart’s music. This study aims at testing a mediation model in which music helps to lower children’s anxiety level and increase their performance in visuospatial working memory and eventually helps to boost their math performance. Methods: A sample of 234 primary four students were to complete a series of tasks, including an anxiety measure, a visuospatial working memory (VSWM) task and a math test after being randomly assigned into an experimental group (with Mozart’s music being played in the background) and a control group (silence). T-test and Bootstrapping were used for data analysis, while bootstrapping also tested the direct and indirect effect. Results: Findings showed that 1) The experimental group significantly outperformed in the VSWM task and the math test, comparing with the control group. 2) They also had a lower anxiety level than the control group. 3) The effect of music on children’s math performance was mediated by anxiety and visuospatial working memory. Conclusion: This study suggested that listening to Mozart’s music helps reducing students’ anxiety during math tests, which results in enhancement in their visuospatial working memory and ultimately their math performance. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationBachelor of Social Sciences (Honours)
Awarding Institution
  • The Education University of Hong Kong
Supervisors/Advisors
  • WONG, Tin Yau Terry, Supervisor
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Mozart effect
  • Anxiety
  • Visuospatial working memory
  • Mathematic performance
  • Alt. title: 聆聽莫札特音樂能否提升學生數學成績
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Thesis (BSocSc(Psy))--The Education University of Hong Kong, 2017.

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