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Data handling and analysis

Data handling and analysis

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Question 51

Music and Reading Comprehension Study

A group of cognitive psychologists wanted to investigate whether background music with prominent lyrics affects reading comprehension.

An opportunity sample of 24 university students took part in the study. The students were randomly allocated to either the 'lyric music' condition or the 'silent' condition, with 12 students in each group.

In the 'lyric music' condition, participants sat in a lab room and read a complex academic article for 20 minutes while popular vocal tracks played in the background. In the 'silent' condition, participants read the exact same article in a silent cubicle. After reading, all participants completed a 20-point reading comprehension test under silent conditions.

The findings were as follows:

  • 'Lyric music' condition: Mean score = 11.20, Standard Deviation = 4.45
  • 'Silent' condition: Mean score = 16.50, Standard Deviation = 1.25

Question: Write a brief interpretation of the research findings. Comment on homogeneity of variance in your answer.

[3]
Markscheme

Data handling and analysis Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Psychology
  3. /Data handling and analysis

235 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Psychology Data handling and analysis. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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