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Journal Two: Thinking About the Discussion Section

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Journal Two: Thinking About the Discussion Section

The Discussion of a research paper is utilized in explaining the implications of the findings to the hypotheses, establishing the strengths and weaknesses of the research, and giving directions for further research. The above key points are summarized below and a guided process to write the Discussion section in Milestone Five is given: Journal Two: Thinking About the Discussion Section.

Hypothesis and Findings

The main research hypothesis in the current research was that different genres of music, classic, rock, and jazz, would yield different physiological reactions as measured by heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductance. The null research hypothesis was that there would be no appreciable difference in the aforementioned physiological measures between the genres of music. The study found a significant difference, which indicates the impact of music on the autonomic nervous system.

Classical music was associated with reduced heart rate and skin conductance, indicating the relaxing effects and stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. The finding aligns with existing literature, in which the therapeutic impact of the alleviation of stress and anxiety through classical music is widely observed (Nakai et al., 2020). The relaxing and rhythmic character of the music in the classical style most likely underlies the above effects and could also support the reduction of stress.

In contrast, rock music evoked greater arousal, as evident in the increase in the rate and conductance in the skin. This effect agrees with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, typically associated with states of excitation and readiness. The fast pace and dramatic build in rock music are most likely to produce the above responses, and the music may be regarded as a means to enhance focus and motivation in various situations (Hu et al., 2022).

Jazz music created intermediate physiological responses, reflecting a combination of activation and relaxation. The rhythmic variability and temporal fluctuations characteristic in jazz are possibly the reasons jazz music triggers intermediate effects in the autonomic nervous system. The intermediate effect renders jazz music a versatile music to use in various situations, from the reduction of stress to creative augmentation (Tervaniemi et al., 2021).

Repeated-measures ANOVA confirmed significant differences among the genres, and the use of the post-hoc tests confirmed significant differences among all the various combinations among the genres. A significant correlation between the preferred music genre of participants and the magnitude of participants’ physiological responses also confirmed the moderating function of participants’ preference in influencing the body’s effect from music. This finding justifies the need to personalize music intervention to maximize the effect (Kulinski et al., 2021).

Strengths

The study’s methodological strength lies in its adherence to established psychophysiological research protocols. The implementation of validated physiological measurement instruments, specifically heart rate monitoring and galvanic skin response detection systems, enhanced the data’s reliability and validity. These instruments are the standard in the measurement of the autonomic nervous system (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2013).

The experimental procedure included necessary control, including random presentation of the stimulus and standardized protocol, to remove any possible confounds and increase internal validity. Environmental factors, including temperature and ambient noise, were controlled, making the attribution of the responses to the music and not to extraneous sources.

The study’s research methodology justifies the findings and the practical applications. Adherence to the APA research methodology and reporting standards ensured replicability and transparency. The thorough reporting of the statistical techniques and assumptions helped to provide detailed interpretations and possible replications. Further, the sample’s heterogeneity, such as diverse demographic characteristics, enhanced the external validity of the research.

The heterogeneity put the research findings in music-elicited physiological responses into different segments of the population. The use of participants who represented various ages, genders, and music preferences enhanced the generalizability of the research findings to other populations. The integration of rigorous methodology, validated measurement tools, and heterogeneity in sampling provides a rigorous research foundation to support the conclusions and potential applications in research and applied contexts.

Limitations

Despite its strengths, the research has some limitations. The 20 participants (from diverse populations) represented a relatively small group; thus, the findings could be constrained by the statistical power and generalizability. A larger sample size would provide greater statistical tests and conclusions. Larger and more diverse populations in future research could provide clearer evidence about the physical effect of music.

Additionally, the experimental procedure, while rigorous, comprised laboratory measurement under controlled situations, and the external validity in real-life situations could be affected by this. The participants typically hear music in real-life situations, at home, in the car, or the office, and the physical situations could influence the body responses. The research could provide some useful clues about the effect music produces in real life if the same research is conducted in the real world.

Another limitation was the use of self-report measures to assess some variables, including music preference and perceived music effects. Self-report data are prone to bias and, at times, fail to capture participants’ real experiences and bodily states. The use of additional objective measures or the use of multiple sources to triangulate the data could eliminate this limitation in future research. For instance, the use of body sensors to monitor participants’ responses in real time during music listening could offer more precise and detailed information (George & Ilavarasu, 2021).

Future Research

The findings in the current research offer numerous opportunities to carry out future research. A significant area lies in the research into the variability in responses to music at the physiological level. Cultural background, music education, and personality are possible influencing factors in people’s responses to different music styles.

Future research could look into these variables to obtain a clearer picture of the music-physiology association. For instance, musically trained people could produce different responses to music in comparison to musically untrained people because they are sensitively conscious about music components (Malakoutikhah et al., 2022).

Additionally, longitudinal research could examine the long-term effect of repeated exposure to specific music styles. While the current research entailed immediate body responses, the long-term effects of music could carry great implications in the area of therapeutic use and the regulation of stress. Long-term research could reveal if repeated prolonged exposure to music of a specific kind gives rise to long-term body modifications in the body’s signs, such as decreased basal stress.

Methodologically, future research could involve mixed-methods designs, coupling quantitative measurement of the body’s responses and reporting participants’ subjective experiences through qualitative reporting. This could provide additional meaning to interpretations of the body’s responses and evidence about the psychological mechanisms through which music’s effects are mediated. Qualitative reporting, through interviews and open-ended surveys, among others, could offer evidence about the associated emotional and cognitive processes.

Moreover, future research could also consider music as a clinical and educational intervention. For example, music could be added to stress reduction courses, school curriculums, or psychiatric disorder treatments. Practitioners could enhance the effectiveness of such courses and the results among participants by tailoring the music intervention to the participants’ preferences and requirements.

Conclusion

In summary, the research presented serves to augment the body of evidence in the domain of the music’s physiological effect, considering the specific effects of the jazz, rock, and classic music styles. The findings are practical, and the effort to remove the mentioned limitations and follow the suggested future research directions will further augment the evidence in the domain. Through the research into the music-physiology nexus, scientists are in a position to develop evidence-based intervention strategies to leverage the therapeutic potential of music and enhance well-being in different populations.

References

George, M., & Ilavarasu, J. (2021). Development and psychometric validation of the music receptivity scale. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.585891

Hu, X., Li, F., & Liu, R. (2022). Detecting music-induced emotion based on acoustic analysis and physiological sensing: A multimodal approach. Applied Sciences, 12(18), 9354. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12189354

Kulinski, J., Ofori, E. K., Visotcky, A., Smith, A., Sparapani, R., & Fleg, J. L. (2021). Effects of music on the cardiovascular system. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine, 32(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcm.2021.06.004

Malakoutikhah, A., Dehghan, M., Ghonchehpour, A., Afshar, P. P., & Zakeri, M. A. (2022). A randomized controlled trial on the effects of different music genres on physiologic parameters and emotion. Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-03245-x

Nakai, T., Koide-Majima, N., & Nishimoto, S. (2020). Correspondence of categorical and feature-based representations of music in the human brain. Brain and Behavior, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1936

Rosnow, R., & Rosenthal, R. (2013). Beginning behavioral research: A conceptual primer (7th ed.). Pearson.

Tervaniemi, M., Makkonen, T., & Nie, P. (2021). Psychological and physiological signatures of music listening in different listening environments—An exploratory study. Brain Sciences, 11(5), 593. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050593

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Question

Assignment Information

PSY 520 Journal Two Guidelines and Rubric

The Thinking about the Discussion Section journal assignment will prepare you to write the Discussion section of your research paper in Milestone Five.

This journal is a chance for feedback on appropriate and inappropriate statistical tests. However, the journal assignment does not include every critical element that is part of Milestone Five. Be sure to review the Milestone Five Guidelines and Rubric to understand what is expected in that assignment and how your work in this journal connects to that assignment.

Prompt
1. Discuss your hypothesis as it relates to your research findings. Be sure to consider and address the following:

2. Describe the strengths of your research. For instance, you may have used an existing, already vetted survey instrument. Or perhaps you did a good job following APA (American Psychological Association) research standards and guidelines.

3. Describe the limitations of your research. Consider such items as:


4. Discuss areas related to your topic that need future research. For instance:

What to Submit
Submit your 2- to 3-page document with double spacing, 12-point font, and one-inch margins, with any sources referenced cited in APA format.

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