The Effects of Music on
6th Grade Boys' Blood Pressure
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Researched by Ashley D.
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The purpose of this experiment was to determine how two different tempos of music would effect 6th grade boys' blood pressure. I became interested in this idea when my older brother started listening to fast tempo music at bedtime. Then my younger brother began listening to slow classical music at bedtime. I began to wonder which boys' blood pressure is lower because this might help him go to sleep. The information gained from this experiment will tell parents what to have their school age children listen to at bedtime.
HYPOTHESIS
My hypothesis is that the fast tempo music will raise a boyís blood pressure. I think the slow tempo music will lower their blood pressure.
I base my hypothesis on my observations that people are affected by the tempo of music. Bouncy music has a tendency to make people more active, and soft has a tendency to calm people.
The constants in this study were:
- The amount of time music is played
- Gender of subjects
- Approximate age of subjects
- Type of music and exact selections
- Method of taking blood pressure including the blood pressure taking tool
- Subjects resting in chair before and measurements
- Blood pressure taken before music played
- Blood pressure taken while music is still going
The manipulated variable was the tempo of the music. The
first time their blood pressure was taken they had been listening
to no music. The second time they had been listening to
slow tempo music and the last time they were listening to the
fast tempo music.
The responding variable was how much their blood pressure changed, both systolic and diastolic.
To measure the responding variable I took each boys' blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer immediately during the third minute the music was being played. A nurse double-checked my use of the sphygmomanometer for accurate readings.
| QUANTITY | ITEM DESCRIPTION |
| 2 | stop watches |
| 1 | tape recorder |
| 1 | nurse |
| 1 | sphygmomanometer with adult medium cuff |
| 8 | 6th grade boys |
| 1 | tape of fast tempo classical music |
| 1 | tape of slow tempo classical music |
| 3 | chair |
PROCEDURES
1. Enlist help of a nurse with a R.N. degree to double-check
my technique and accuracy when measuring the boyís blood
pressure. Recruit 8 boys who are in the 6th grade.
2. Give each boy a parent permission slip made for this purpose.
3. Be sure the permission slip is returned and filled out properly
before including subject in this.
4. Have all subjects' rest by sitting quietly in a chair for 5
minutes.
5. Take the boyís blood pressure before playing any music
and record on data sheet.
6. Play a slow tempo song for 4 minutes at volume level 5.
7. Immediately after 3 minutes have the nurse take the boyís
blood pressure and record on data sheet.
8. Repeat steps 4,6,7 again so you can test with fast tempo.
9. Repeat steps 5-9 with the remaining students.
The original purpose of this experiment was to determine how three different tempos of music would effect 6th grade boyís blood pressure. I became interested in this idea when my older brother started listening to fast tempo classical music at bedtime. Then my younger brother began listening to slow classical music at bedtime. I began to wonder which boyís blood pressure is lower because this might help him go to sleep. The information gained from this experiment will tell parents what to have their school age children listen to at bedtime.
The results of the experiment were that the slow tempo music blood pressure lowered and the fast tempo music systolic higher but diastolic lowered.
My hypothesis was that the fast tempo music would raise a boyís blood pressure. I also thought the slow tempo music would lower their blood pressure.
The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected because on the fast tempo music the diastolic pressure lowered and the systolic went higher.
Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if it would be the same results if I conducted the experiment on girls.
If I were to conduct this project again I would probably test more subjects so I was able to get more information. I also would have used more softer music and bouncier music. I also would have played the music for a longer time to make sure it was affective. I would also have done half of the subjects on slow tempo then fast and the other half on fast then slow tempo.
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RESEARCH REPORT INTRODUCTION TYPES OF PRESSURE AGE GROUPS BLOOD HEMOGLOBIN BLOOD PRESSURE MEASURING TOOL
HEART MUSIC SUMMARY Blood pressure readings vary for as you get older your blood pressure gets higher. Blood pressure is always changing as your activity level and emotions change. The heart pumps 27 quarts a minute in the adult body. The blood travels through veins and arteries to supply blood to every part of the body. Music can affect a person's mood or felling. |
Ardley, Neil, MUSIC, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.1989
ìBlood pressureî Encartaí98 USA Microsoft Inc.1998
Carter, Joseph L., Life Science: A Problem Solving Approach, Boston, Massachusetts, Ginnand Company, 1971
Simon, Seymour, The Heart Our Circulatory System, New York, Morrow Junior Books, 1996
Zim, Herbert S, Your Heart and How it Works, William Morrow and Company, 1959
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