Listening Habits Research Articles

Listening Habits of the Undergraduate Level EFL Learners: A Survey

From language acquisition to everyday communication, and from academic contexts to different daily-life aspects, listening plays a substantial role. Unfortunately, the learners seem to be unaware of the importance of listening in language learning. The current study attempted to investigate the listening habits of the learners and found that majority of the learners pay no/less attention to listening. They seem to be ignorant about the value of listening in language learning. The study also found that in spite of having a variety of resources and opportunities, majority of the learners are very reluctant to use them to practice listening and thus couldn’t improve their listening habits in their daily lives.

Examining students’ music listening willingness and engagement to foster their musical achievement and development in higher educational institutions

Drawing upon self-determination theory, this study explores how listening music willingness (LMW) and music engagement (ME) impact musical development and achievement (MDA) via the mediating role of music aesthetic experience (MAE) and music listening behavior (MLB) among 299 university music students in Chinese higher educational institutions (HEIs). Employing structural equation modeling (SEM), the results reveal that LMW significantly influences MLB but not musical development and achievement. ME significantly affects both music aesthetic experience and MDA, with a significant correlation between MLB and MDA. Besides, the relationship between MAE and MDA is positively significant. Mediation analysis reveals that music listening behavior fully mediates the LMW–MDA relationship, while the relationship between ME and MDA is partially mediated by musical aesthetic experience. These findings offer insights for crafting music educational strategies emphasizing positive listening behavior, active engagement, and enriched aesthetic experiences to enhance effectiveness in HEIs. For policymakers particularly in China, understanding the pivotal role of MLB as a mediator between willingness and achievement suggests interventions targeting listening habits can positively influence overall MDA. Furthermore, recognizing the partial mediation by aesthetic experience in the relationship between engagement and MDA suggests programs enhancing musical aesthetic experiences could amplify the impact of music education initiatives.

Exploring the Radio Listening Habits and Preferences of Working Women in Oman: A Study on Uses and Gratifications

This study investigates the radio usage patterns, habits, and motivations of working Omani women, focusing on the gratifications they seek. The research employed a questionnaire to gather data from 362 female workers in Muscat Governorate. The findings revealed that Omani women in Muscat Governorate selectively listen to the radio, with a preference for music programs and songs, including those from foreign radio stations. The primary motives for radio listening were "getting acquainted with the road," "amusement and entertainment," and "learning about local and international events." Additionally, the study highlighted that the most significant gratifications were related to gaining information and staying informed. The results also indicated that Omani working women tend to interact minimally with radio content, with a preference for using social media platforms when they do engage. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the radio usage behavior of working Omani women and the gratifications they derive from it. Keywords: Motivations, patterns, habits, uses, gratifications, Omani working women, Oman, radio stations.

Students' Strategies for Improving Their Listening Comprehension: A Review of Literature

Listening is essential for functioning in various contexts throughout one's everyday life. People listen to audio for several reasons, including for their amusement, to learn academic material, or to acquire information that is valuable to them. When students seek to comprehend what they are taught in English, they often display a wide variety of hearing impairments. Because reading, writing, and language are stressed so heavily in schools, students often have trouble comprehending what they hear. Most course books and teachers do not emphasize how important it is to listen. This research focuses on challenges associated with hearing, listening, and comprehending what is being said. When instructors are aware of the obstacles their students confront in the classroom, they can better assist their students in creating effective listening habits and increasing their listening comprehension. This is because teachers are more able to empathize with their students' experiences. This article review highlights the significance of assisting students in developing efficient learning strategies and building their English listening capabilities. Students struggling with other topics may be seen by teachers who instruct English to foreign language speakers. In conclusion, the researcher provided some suggestions for educational activities that should be participated in by both students and instructors.

High School Students’ Music Listening Habits and Attitudes towards Intangible Cultural Heritage Elements

In this study, it was aimed to reveal the relationship between high school students’ music listening habits and their attitudes towards intangible cultural heritage elements. The research sample consists of 353 students studying at Isparta Süleyman Demirel Science High School. Research data were collected with a structured questionnaire. In the first part of the structured questionnaire consisting of three parts, there are questions to determine gender and grade, in the second part there are questions to determine the music listening habits of the students, and in the last part there is the Intangible Cultural Heritage Attitude Scale, the validity and reliability study of which was conducted by Gürel and Çetin (2019). The analyses within the scope of construct validity of the measurement tool were made and evaluated to be appropriate. In addition, as a result of the reliability analysis applied to the entire scale, Cronbach’s Alpha result was calculated as .871. Independent samples t-test and one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyse the data obtained from the research. According to the results of the analyses, when the music listening habits of high school students and their attitudes towards intangible cultural heritage elements were examined, it was determined that there was no significant relationship according to gender, grade level, music listening tool, frequency of allocating special time for music listening and Turkish lyrics of music. In addition, it was determined that there was a significant difference between the type of music students listened to and their attitudes towards intangible cultural heritage elements.

The association of sociodemographic factors and risk behavior with unsafe use of personal listening devices in adolescents

ABSTRACT Many young people are potentially at risk of noise-induced hearing loss due to unsafe use of personal listening devices. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association of sociodemographic factors and risk behavior with unsafe use of personal listening devices in adolescents to identify a target group for prevention. A smartphone application was developed to objectively measure music listening habits among 314 adolescents with a mean age of 13 years and 7 months (SD ±5 months). Listening habits were characterized as safe or unsafe based on the weekly noise dose. Data on sociodemographic factors and traditional health risk behaviors were obtained by questionnaires. Within the study group, 10.5% of the participants exceeded the 50%, and 4.8% the 100% recommended weekly noise dose. Adolescents with a lower socioeconomic status were more likely to engage in unsafe listening habits as compared to adolescents with a higher socioeconomic status. Additionally, risk behavior was associated with higher odds of having unsafe listening habits as compared to no risk behavior. Age, sex and educational levels were not significantly associated with unsafe listening habits. The findings of the present study indicate that interventions to promote safe listening habits should target adolescents with a lower socioeconomic status and higher risk behavior. Future research is needed to investigate how these adolescents can be motivated to adopt safe listening habits.

Do Sex Workers Listen to Radio? Deconstructing the Radio Listening Habits of the Sex Workers of Sonagachi

ABSTRACT Ever since the inception of radio in India, it has played a significant role as a medium of mass communication and entertainment. It must be noted that the technology used by radio has been in existence for almost over a century. Listening to morning news over radio has been reported as a habit widely practiced across the globe. Radio as a tool of communication has been preferred by not only activists and people’s movements but also by marginalized and stereotyped communities. This paper attempts to deconstruct the radio listening habits of the sex workers of Sonagachi (often referred to as the largest red-light district of Asia that harbors around 15,000 sex workers) in order to assess the role communication plays within the boundaries of the community. To arrive at conclusion, the researcher incorporated the usage of semi-structured in-depth interviews of five female sex workers, chosen with the application of snowball sampling technique. The findings of this study can be used to initiate the creation of a community radio station (a sustainable, sensible alternative for infotainment) or any other form of community public sphere for sex workers in Kolkata’s red-light districts. Further, it can be used to offer recommendations to government and policymakers who are responsible for establishing such stations for marginalized communities, essentially giving a voice to the voiceless.

The Impact of Active Empathetic Listening on an Introductory Communication Course

Listening skills are essential to interpersonal relationships and successful work in teams. Despite its necessity, most communication curriculum in higher education does not target students’ listening skills. This study examines the impact of infusing an Active Empathetic Listening (AEL) module into a large, introductory university communication course. One hundred and seventy-two students (n = 172) from four courses (fall 2018–spring 2020) completed a self-reported questionnaire measuring AEL at three time points across the semester. Results showed that the module made statistically significant differences within all three AEL subscales of sensing, processing, and responding. Results suggest that long-term exposure to the active listening curriculum are required to make behavioral pattern changes to their listening habits. Researchers conclude with recommendations for communication educators, shedding light on how AEL skills can be developed among college students.

La radio: el medio que mejor se comporta en las crisis. Hábitos de escucha, consumo y percepción de los oyentes de radio durante el confinamiento por el Covid-19

Radio is the medium best adapted to crises. This has been demonstrated throughout the history of Spain, both in the 1981 coup d’état attempt and in the terrorist attacks of March 11, 2004. The question that arises then is if in the situation of lockdown suffered by the Spanish population due to the Covid-19 pandemic radio is also playing an important role. This study answers this question through a survey answered by 560 radio listeners during the lockdown. The research has focused on knowing the listening habits, radio consumption, and the perception that these listeners have of the medium in this crisis. The data indicate that the respondents have changed their listening habits and have increased their medium consumption. During the lockdown, they are listening to the radio mostly in the living room, bedroom, and kitchen while cleaning or cooking. They are also consuming more hours of radio, more stations (of different ideological positions), and more shows. For these listeners, radio is positioned as the medium that is best covering information about the coronavirus and the one that they consider most credible, the closest, that most stimulates the imagination, that reduces loneliness, and is the most distracting. Overall, the results of this study allow us to conclude that the radio is once again playing a leading role in the coronavirus crisis, as it has occurred throughout the history of Spain.

Community awareness of noise-induced hearing loss from portable listening devices and possible preventive measures

Introduction: Although there is some degree of awareness among adults concerning noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), they may not perceive themselves to be at risk and may, therefore, find it unnecessary to change their listening habits. The current study investigated the beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding NIHL in the community. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, community-based survey was conducted on 739 respondents from different regions (north, south, west, east, and central) of Saudi Arabia. An electronic Arabic questionnaire (Survey Monkey Arabic questionnaire) was distributed through social media (Facebook, WhatsApp group, and Twitter) for 3 months starting from May 2017. A total of forty questions were designed in order to investigate the participants' beliefs and knowledge about NIHL within the community. Results: Approximately 25% of the study participants reported mild-to-severe hearing problems, especially among male participants. A significantly higher prevalence of hearing problems was noted in listeners who were accustomed to using a volume level of more than 80%. The risk factors for NIHL included the number of sessions per day that the participant was exposed to a noise source and the degree to which the volume of the TV or the radio was increased along with the duration of exposure per session. Approximately 75% of the study participants preferred to decrease the volume of their personal audio devices as a means of protection against NIHL. Conclusion: This study identified that there is a significant prevalence of hearing impairment in the Saudi community. In general, majority of the respondents are aware of the risk factors concerning NIHL. In spite of that, the practice of population showed unhealthy listening habits. The positive attitude of the participants toward changing their lifestyle indicates that there is a need for NIHL awareness campaigns to further educate the community.

Consumers on Critique: A Survey of Classical Music Listeners’ Engagement with Professional Music Reviews

Music criticism has a long tradition as a leading agent in the classical music discourse. However, some people question its function in the contemporary music market. We explored the topicality of classical music critique by asking: Who reads professional reviews today? And what do readers expect from review? Through an online survey (English/German), we profiled the listening habits of classical music listeners ( N = 1200) and their engagement with professional reviews. Our participants were more actively engaged with music, but contrary to the ‘highbrow’ stereotype, not more highly musically trained than the general population. They consumed music and opinion sources in a variety of ways. Approximately two-thirds ( n = 741) of the participants had recently engaged with professional reviews, which were perceived as the most useful form of opinion, followed by short written commentaries and, lastly, ratings. A multiple logistic regression model suggested that the typical consumer of professional music critique was older with higher levels of musical engagement and education, had a higher inclination to purchase music and lower usage of streaming services, and had a preference for detailed reviews from traditional sources (e.g. newspapers). According to review readers, reviews should cover a variety of topics and offer evaluations underpinned with reasons. Reviewers should be constructive, open-minded, respectful, and well informed; their professional background was less relevant. Professional reviews should not necessarily provide a recommendation on what to buy, but rather guide listeners’ musical appreciation and understanding. Professional criticism still has an audience, although more so among older, musically educated listeners. Critics need to explore various channels in order to connect to a new generation of classical music listeners.

An international, interprofessional investigation of the self-reported podcast listening habits of emergency clinicians: A METRIQ Study.

Podcasts are increasingly being used for medical education. A deeper understanding of usage patterns would inform both producers and researchers of medical podcasts. We aimed to determine how and why podcasts are used by emergency medicine and critical care clinicians. An international interprofessional sample (medical students, residents, physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and paramedics) was recruited through direct contact and a multimodal social media (Twitter and Facebook) campaign. Each participant completed a survey outlining how and why they utilize medical podcasts. Recruitment materials included an infographic and study website. 390 participants from 33 countries and 4 professions (medicine, nursing, paramedicine, physician assistant) completed the survey. Participants most frequently listened to medical podcasts to review new literature (75.8%), learn core material (75.1%), and refresh memory (71.8%). The majority (62.6%) were aware of the ability to listen at increased speeds, but most (76.9%) listened at 1.0 x (normal) speed. All but 25 (6.4%) participants concurrently performed other tasks while listening. Driving (72.3%), exercising (39.7%), and completing chores (39.2%) were the most common. A minority of participants used active learning techniques such as pausing, rewinding, and replaying segments of the podcast. Very few listened to podcasts multiple times. An international cohort of emergency clinicians use medical podcasts predominantly for learning. Their listening habits (rarely employing active learning strategies and frequently performing concurrent tasks) may not support this goal. Further exploration of the impact of these activities on learning from podcasts is warranted.

Assessment of Radio Listening Habits of Undergraduate Students of Imo State University, Nigeria

This study examined the radio listening habit of Imo State University undergraduate students. The study was anchored on two theories namely: theory of listener sponsored radio and uses and gratification theory. The study adopted the mixed method research design using survey and in-depth interview methods. The population of the study was the 18,000 undergraduate students of Imo State University, Owerri. The Taro Yamane’s formula was used to arrive at a sample size of 400 respondents for the survey aspect of the study, while 11 respondents were interviewed for the qualitative aspect of the work. The cluster and judgmental sampling techniques were used for the study. Questionnaire and interview guide were the instruments for data collection. Findings revealed that 63% of the respondents listen to radio often. It was also revealed that over 70% of the respondents prefer listening to news programmes. Result of the chi-square test revealed that at X2 (4, N=389) = 253.6, p < 0.00, students’ listenership to radio programme is dependent on the type of programme aired. It was recommended that students should continue to listen to radio programmes in order to add to their wealth of knowledge and escape the stress associated with busy academic calendar.Key Words: Radio listening habits, Uses and Gratification Theory, Listener Sponsored Radio theory

Long-term Changes in Musical Perception in Korean Cochlear Implant Patients.

The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term changes in music perception among cochlear implant (CI) patients using the Korean version of the Clinical Assessment of Music Perception test and questionnaires for music listening. Twenty-seven CI patients participated in this study. Their music perception ability was evaluated using the Korean version of the Clinical Assessment of Music Perception test, which consisted of pitch discrimination, melody, and timbre identification. The test was conducted at least twice after CI. A questionnaire was also used to quantify listening habits (LH) and level of musical experience (LE). The participants were divided into two groups according to the average of each test result from the first test. In the pitch discrimination test, the just-noticeable-difference limen values increased as the base frequency increased, and significant differences were observed between the results of 262 and 391 Hz (p = 0.006). In the good performance group, pitch discrimination in the second test did not significantly differ from the first test, but the pitch discrimination score significantly improved in the poor performance group. Similarly, timbre test results were significantly improved in the poor performance group. Neither group exhibited changes in the second test for melody identification. The scores for LH and LE significantly decreased postoperatively and did not recover during the follow-up period. Pitch discrimination and timbre identification improved in CI listeners who exhibited poor musical performance shortly after surgery. However, melody identification did not improve over time. LH and LE scores decreased after CI surgery without time-dependent improvement.

An investigation into the Relationship between EFL Learners' Foreign Music Listening Habits and Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety

An investigation into the Relationship between EFL Learners' Foreign Music Listening Habits and Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety

Hearing Status in Young People Using Portable Audio Players

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the hearing status in young adults using portable audio players (PAPs) in relation to their listening habits. The study included 58 subjects, aged 22.8±2.8 years, non-occupationally exposed to noise. Questionnaire inquiry aimed at collecting personal data, the information on PAPs usage habits, self-assessment of hearing status and identification of risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) were performed in study subjects. Hearing tests included pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and transient-evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE). All subjects were PAPs users. Depending on listening habits they were divided into the subgroups of “frequent” users (>1 h/day) and “non-frequent” users (≤1 h/day). There were no significant differences between subgroups in prevalence of NIHL risk factors and self-assessment of hearing status. However, frequent users more often complained of tinnitus and hyperacusis. Majority (81.9%) of participants had normal hearing. Nevertheless, 6.9% of audiograms showed high- frequency notches typical for NIHL. Both, the PTA and TEOAE indicated worse hearing in non-frequent users compared to frequent users. No significant differences in prevalence of high-frequency notches be- tween subgroups were noted. The outcomes do not support some previous studies results that the excessive exposure to music listened through PAPs might result in accelerating of development of NIHL loss in young adults.

Address Youth Risky Listening Habits to Prevent a ‘Deaf Generation’

Address Youth Risky Listening Habits to Prevent a ‘Deaf Generation’

Personal listening habits and the potential for hearing loss of Canadian university students

Rationale: Personal and external factors, such as earphone type and music preference, can influence music volume adjustment beyond safe levels. The present study attempted to identify which factors are most influential on volume adjustment. Method: A cross-sectional survey of university students (n = 75) who use personal listening devices (PLD) was performed. Additionally, each participant's PLD music volume was measured through their earphones. Results: On average, participants listened to music at safe (<85 dB) but high levels (79.8 dB) for generally less than four hours per day. Nearly 60% of respondents used earbuds and half preferred “noisy” music genres such as hip-hop and rock/folk. The vast majority of respondents indicated listening to music while travelling by bus for the purpose of blocking out environmental noise or out of boredom. About 75% of the participants were categorized as “pro-noise”. Most students claimed to respond to changing noise environments by adjusting music volume, but few enabled PLD built-in volume controls. Impact: This study determined that earphone type, listening environment, music genre, and listening duration were influential on an participants’ adjustment of music volume. Further research is needed to assess earphone quality and to clearly elucidate more complex associations between external or personal factors and volume adjustment.

Hearing risk associated with the usage of personal listening devices among urban high school students in Malaysia

ObjectivesTo investigate listening habits and hearing risks associated with the use of personal listening devices among urban high school students in Malaysia. Study designCross-sectional, descriptive study. MethodsIn total, 177 personal listening device users (13–16 years old) were interviewed to elicit their listening habits (e.g. listening duration, volume setting) and symptoms of hearing loss. Their listening levels were also determined by asking them to set their usual listening volume on an Apple iPod TM playing a pre-selected song. The iPod's sound output was measured with an artificial ear connected to a sound level meter. Subjects also underwent pure tone audiometry to ascertain their hearing thresholds at standard frequencies (0.5–8 kHz) and extended high frequencies (9–16 kHz). ResultsThe mean measured listening level and listening duration for all subjects were 72.2 dBA and 1.2 h/day, respectively. Their self-reported listening levels were highly correlated with the measured levels (P < 0.001). Subjects who listened at higher volumes also tend to listen for longer durations (P = 0.012). Male subjects listened at a significantly higher volume than female subjects (P = 0.008). When sound exposure levels were compared with the recommended occupational noise exposure limit, 4.5% of subjects were found to be listening at levels which require mandatory hearing protection in the occupational setting. Hearing loss (≥25 dB hearing level at one or more standard test frequencies) was detected in 7.3% of subjects. Subjects' sound exposure levels from the devices were positively correlated with their hearing thresholds at two of the extended high frequencies (11.2 and 14 kHz), which could indicate an early stage of noise-induced hearing loss. ConclusionsAlthough the average high school student listened at safe levels, a small percentage of listeners were exposed to harmful sound levels. Preventive measures are needed to avoid permanent hearing damage in high-risk listeners.

Paul Lazarsfeld's Radio and the Printed Page: A Critical Reappraisal

This article analyzes Paul Lazarsfeld's 1941 book, Radio and the Printed Page, arguing for the book's enduring significance in communication and media studies. In the book, Lazarsfeld rejected the then-influential technological determinist model that Hadley Cantril and Gordon Allport had developed through studying the new medium of radio. In contrast to Cantril and Allport, Lazarsfeld found through studying Americans' listening and reading habits that radio's effects on society were not totalizing, and he discovered that radio not only did not diminish the importance of reading printed texts, but that it in fact may have encouraged the practice. The book established Lazarsfeld's scholarly reputation in the United States and formed the basis for his later and widely influential research. Long ignored in the intellectual history of media studies, Radio and the Printed Page is in fact a foundational work, one that contains the clear beginnings of the social constructivist ideas that Lazarsfeld would later articulate in The People's Choice and Personal Influence. Ultimately, the work presented a theory understanding media effects as significant but not totalizing, analyzed how people made meaning of media content through everyday social life, and demonstrated the continuing relevance of print in a world increasingly linked together by newer forms of media.