Department of Health Sciences Faculty Articles
The Effects of Background Music on Word Processed Writing
Document Type
Article
Publisher
Pergamon Press
ISSN
0747-5632
Publication Date
3-2001
Keywords
Word Processed Writing, Working Memory, Writing Fluency, Background Music
Abstract
College students often listen to music while they use a computer. This experiment investigated whether background music disrupts their ability to word process fluently and effectively. Forty-five psychology undergraduates wrote brief expository essays. Background music significantly disrupted writing fluency (words generated per minute controlling for typing speed and including those words deleted before the final draft) even though no response to the music was required. Those with some musical training and high working memory span wrote better essays with longer sentences and were also more likely to pause at clause boundaries. Even unattended music places heavy demands on working memory and disrupts word processed writing.
DOI
10.1016/S0747-5632(00)00043-1
Volume
17
Issue
2
First Page
141
Last Page
148
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
NSUWorks Citation
Ransdell, Sarah Ellen PhD and Gilroy, L., "The Effects of Background Music on Word Processed Writing" (2001). Department of Health Sciences Faculty Articles. 253.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_hs_facarticles/253
