A nonverbal technique for studying music preference

Abstract

This study demonstrated a reliable technique for evaluating listening preferences for music. It evaluated simultaneously the relative percentage of time that retarded subjects pressed one of four keys resulting in two types of music, white noise, and silence (no consequence). Although each type of auditory stimulus was continually available, the key which produced a specific type of stimulus was switched each 2 min. A key-press operated a microswitch and resulted in presentation of a stimulus type for the duration of time that the key was pressed. This procedure was used to assess preference for 66 subjects in four 20-min sessions. The results indicated that all 66 subjects preferred music over white noise and silence during each session. Also, 59 of 66 subjects preferred one type of music (Motown Sound) over the other type of music (Doc Severinsen). Fifty-one of 66 subjects preferred Motown Sound music during each of four sessions. There was a trend for differences to increase between preference for Motown Sound Music and the three other stimulus types over four sessions.