An educational psychologist conducted a study across two secondary schools (School A and School B) to investigate the effect of background music genre on students' reading comprehension.
Students read a complex scientific article while listening to a playlist of classical piano music. The playlist had an average tempo of 72 BPM and was played at a controlled volume of 40 dB. After reading, the students were given a comprehension test based on the article.
Students read the exact same scientific article while listening to a playlist of ambient electronic music. This playlist was specifically designed to also have an average tempo of 72 BPM and was played at the exact same volume of 40 dB. After reading, these students completed the same comprehension test.
Explain why it was important that the ambient electronic music playlist was matched in tempo and volume to the classical piano music playlist.
689 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Psychology Scientific processes. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.