PERCEPTION TOWARD MUSIC AS A STUDY HABIT AMONG SELECTED

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

A Research Paper

Presented to the Faculty of the

Senior High School Department

University of Cebu – Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Campus

Mandaue City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfilment

of the Requirements for the Subject

Practical Research 1

by:

Samantha Vynize Alviso

Allison Klyr Asis

Christle Badilla

Joshua Ayuda

Alliah Fernandez

AB11A3

Ms. Marites Caspe

March 2023
 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

INTRODUCTION

Rationale of the study

Nowadays music is an omnipresent element in our daily life that is easier to access
due to the widespread use of technology. Due to its accessibility and popularity, the
younger generation makes use of it to stimulate emotions and deal with stress as it has
been proven to influence our mood, thus leading to frequent listening to music. It can
produce several positive effects as it has the exceptional potential to enhance learning and
well-being for students, especially in terms of emotion regulation, behavior modification,
and task performance and engagement.

Listening to music has restorative effects and these effects include managing stress
(Kirk et al., 2022). Music can assist students in realizing the importance of the positive
mental ability to develop good emotional regulation which can help in improving
learning by offering appropriate music psychological optional courses centered on topics
that are relevant to their learning and lives (Sun, 2022). In a study conducted by Kiss &
Linnell (2023), the results suggest that people use music to increase their arousal to
optimal levels for performance, especially when performing simple tasks rather than
complex tasks. Although research on the role of arousal in the background music
literature mostly suggests that music increases arousal, the present results also suggest
that when people listen to music during complex tasks, they do so not to increase but to
decrease their arousal. These findings suggest that people implicitly understand the
effects of background music on their cognitive task performance and choose music to
modulate their arousal levels as appropriate for the given task. Thus, understanding the
individual preferences of music could possibly help students while studying thus,
improving cognitive abilities and academic performance.

In a study by Fawzy et al., (2022), 34 first-year medical students were selected

from the College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In terms of the
relationship between listening to music and memory retention, results revealed that there
is no clear trend regarding the effect of music on the scores of the exam, and therefore no
effect on memory retention. Another study was also conducted by Blanco and Nartea
(2020), 395 students were randomly selected from PUP (Polytechnic University of the
Philippines). In terms of the relationship between listening to music and academic
performance, results revealed that music moderately affects academic performance.
Furthermore, music increased the productivity of the students. It also helps the students to
have more focus on their tasks. By perception, music also helped the students in some
academic areas including visual memorization, improved phonemic awareness and
helped in reading and writing skills. However, their academic performance or
achievement cannot solely be attributed to music.

Schools have made various suggestions to try different study habits in order to
maximize the student’s potential in improving their academic performance. The
University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue allows students to play music within the
campus every morning before the beginning of classes to create a relaxed atmosphere that
could possibly help students focus on their tasks, however school regulations are strict
when it comes to excessive use of earphones due to the damages it can cause to hearing
but some students are seen to often not follow this warning as some prefer to eliminate
distracting noises that could hinder their concentration.

Music is an expressive art form and a universal language that have existed
throughout history and has played an important part of every culture worldwide
(Kokkidou, 2022). Rödel (2019) stated that “Music allows us to express and perceive
emotions, to communicate independently from social or cultural background, and from
language” (pg. 8). There is a great diversity of music since each culture have established
different musical traditions and genres containing distinctive properties of each musical
characteristic. It has long been known that music has the power to change people's moods
and behaviors (Hu et al., 2021).

The rate of students who got low grades on their subjects is alarming. Among the
different factors affecting the level of achievements as considered by several studies, one
of the difficulties that students face is focusing task performance when exposed in a noisy
or distracting environment (Jain & Gada, on 2019). Memory and concentration is very
important for many academic tasks. For instance, students need to be able to use focus
when reading or analyzing in order to pick out main ideas and fully comprehend their
lessons (Lopez et al., 2019).  Recent studies show conflicting results regarding the effect
of music on different learning activities (Rödel, 2021; Goltz & Sadakata 2021; Chen,
2022). Some studies present the positive effects of listening to music while studying but
others present the opposite. There are many factors taken into consideration when
investigating the effects of music as a study habit since learners seem to differ on the
type, tempo, intensity of the music they prefer. 

The aim of this research it to gather perceptions toward music as a study habit of
the selected senior high school students in the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and
Mandaue Campus in the second semester of the school year 2022-2023. In order to
address the research aim, the following objectives are taken into consideration: The type
of music students engage while studying; the perception of the selected senior high
school students towards music as a study habit regarding concentration, specifically,
reviewing, note taking and memorization; and the recommendations that will be
presented based on the findings.

 In conducting this study, the students would know how music affects their
cognitive abilities and to know if their preferred music really is an effective study
focusing tool in increasing their academic comprehension or it could conflict with their
attention and concentration. This study will also benefit teachers as they will be able to
figure out whether students who study while listening to music are more academically
inclined compared to students who don’t listen to music while studying. This study would
also benefit the school, they will be aware of the effects of music as a study habit on their
student’s academic performances and how it affects their emotional and cognitive
capabilities which is inevitably used in other aspects in life as well. We researchers
would also benefit from this research study because it expands our knowledge and
understanding in the field we chose to study, defining our academic, career and personal
interest, and lastly this study will help future researchers as this study helps as a future
reference for more studies in the future.
Atheoretical Stance

In the light of conducting a qualitative study, there is a temporary suspension of a

priori assumptions. As a consequence of preventing subjectivities, the study will also
involve a suspension of literature review. However, in the course of conducting data
analysis and interpretation, the related theories and literature shall be extensively used.
Lastly, the identification of the theory will be done after data collection and analysis.

Philosophical Stance

The philosophy behind this study is anchored on interpretivism. This research

philosophy involves the researcher to interpret elements of the study. It is important for
the researcher as a social actor to appreciate differences between people and their
experiences. Researchers can never be completely separate from their own values and
beliefs, so these will inevitably inform the way in which they collect, interpret and
analyse data. It is socially constructed and used to interpret underlying meanings,
experiences, behaviour, and language and it argues that knowledge about reality is
subjective.

As this study collects the perceptions or experiences of the selected senior high
school students towards music as a study habit, one philosophical assumption of
interpretevism in this study is ontogical in nature – that is, reality is subjective and
created by individuals in groups.

In the process of conducting this research, we researchers intend to collect data

regarding the perceptions toward music as a study habit in order to receive information
about the different musical preferences of individuals while engaging in different learning
activities and understand the underlying meaning of events and activities being studied.
Hence, the philosophical assumption being derived is epistemological.

Another equally imperative aspect of this study is axiological in nature, the

researchers are part of what is being researched. This study considers goals, values,
mission statements, objectives, beliefs, and opinions made of those being researched, as
well as the interpretations made by the researcher in understanding the perceptions of
students towards engaging in different learning activities with background music.

The language used in this study is also of utmost relevance because the researchers
and key informants originate from all backgrounds and have diverse levels of nature and
experiences, specifically in terms of their degree of education and exposure to various
languages. The researchers use an engaging style of narrative and write in a descriptive
style. As such, this idea takes on the rhetorical philosophical assumption.

Lastly, in terms of the methodological assumption, as this study primarily looks at

the experiences of the key informants listening to music while studying, writing or
memorizing, the researchers narrow down the data from general to exact areas to
customize the data to the aims of this study because this study primarily focuses on the
perceptions of the key informants. As a result of the condensed form that the raw and
contextual data have taken, a prior principle is being applied, which leads to emergence
of theories based on the evidence.
 THE PROBLEM

Domain of Inquiry

This research gathers the perception toward music as a study habit of the selected senior
high school students in the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Campus in the
second semester of the school year 2022-2023, as basis for any possible proposal.

In order to address the research aim, the following sub-problems are taken into
consideration:

1. What type of music do the students engage during studying?

2. What is the perception of the selected senior high school students towards music as a
study habit in terms of:

2.1. Concentration

2.1.1. Reviewing

2.1.2. Note Taking; and

2.2. Memorization

3. Based on the findings, what recommendation can be done?

Significance of the Study

The outcome of the study will be beneficial to the following stakeholders:

Students. that they may know how music affects their cognitive abilities and to
know if their preferred music really an effective study focusing tool in increasing their
academic comprehension or its the other way around.

Teachers. as they will be able to figure out whether students who study while
listening to music are more academically inclined compare to students who do not listen
to music while studying.
 School. they will be aware of the effects of music as a study habit on their student’s
academic performances and how it affects their emotional and cognitive capabilities
which is inevitably used in other aspects in life as well.

Researchers. that the outcomes of this study could be beneficial because it

expands our knowledge and understanding in the field we chose to study, defining our
academic, career and personal interest

Future Researchers. that the outcomes of this study may serve as a reference for
those who would take interest in dealing with the benefits of music while learning.

Parents. They will be aware of the effect of music as a study habit on their
children’s academic performance, emotional and cognitive capabilities which is used to
enhance productivity and learning.

Scope and Delimitation

This study aims to identify the perception towards music as a study habit among
selected senior high school students. The goal of the study is to determine students' usage
of music as a study tool.

This study will be delimited to the senior high school students of University of
Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue who are enrolled in the Second Semester of the Academic
Year 2022–2023. This study aims to identify the type of music used by students and its
relation to concentration, writing, studying, and memorizing.
 Research Methodology

Research Design

This study utilizes the phenomenological design using the qualitative approach in
gathering information given that the study gathers the perceptions of the selected senior
high school students toward music as a study habit. The purpose of the phenomenological
approach is to specify and identify a phenomenon through how they are perceived by the
individuals in a situation. It is concerned with understanding social and psychological
phenomena from the perspectives of the people involved which translates into gathering
‘deep’ information and perceptions through qualitative methods such as interviews,
discussions, and participant observation, gathered from the perspective of the research
participant(s) (Lester, 1999). Furthermore, Moustakas (1994) stated, “The empirical
phenomenological approach involves a return to experience in order to obtain
comprehensive descriptions that provide the basis for a reflective structural analysis that
portrays the essence of the experience” (p. 13).

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

 Figure 1

Research Flow Process

Research Environment

The study will take place in the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue
Campus located in Looc Mandaue City which sits at the foot of the old Mactan bridge,
connecting the cities of Cebu and Lapu-lapu. University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and
Mandaue was founded in 1995 by Ms. Candice Gotianuy, the daughter of Atty. Auguston
W. Go. As for today, UC is the country's largest private university in cebu, with over
58,000 students ranging from pre-school to post-graduate students on 5 campuses. This
study is to be carried out by the senior high school students, in which respondents are
gathered in the Annex 2 Building, under the supervision of Ms. Marites Caspe.
University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (marked by red pin). Source: Google Maps
(Google Map, n.d.)

Research Respondents

Research Instruments

In order to institute this research, the researchers utilized the succeeding research
instruments: Questionnaires

Dry Run Procedure

Research Procedures

Gathering of Data

A transmittal letter addressed to the President of the University of Cebu Lapu-

lapu and Mandaue, Atty. Augusto W. Go, is to be sent to obtain permission to conduct the
study in a Researching Curriculum, to be led and advised by Ms. Marites Caspe, a
respected researcher in her field. After approval, the gathering of data is to begin.
Questionnaires will be personally distributed by the researcher to the key informants

Treatment of Data. The following statistical analysis was applied in this

investigation:


 Ethical Considerations:

The key informants have the liberty to participate without any pressure or
coercion and they also have the right to withdraw from the study. They will be fully
informed regarding the objectives, purpose, benefits, and potential risks of the study and
reassured that their answers are treated as confidential and only used for academic
purposes in making this research. In conducting this research, the researcher will ensure
that the participants would remain comfortable.

Trustworthiness of the Research

To establish credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability of the

research,