Can the use of background music improve the behaviour and academic performance of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties?

In this: publication
By this: publisher
In this Subject: Education
By this author: Hallam, Susan ;&nbsp; Price, John

Authors: Hallam, Susan; Price, John

Source: British Journal of Special Education, Volume 25, Number 2, June 1998 , pp. 88-91(4)

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Abstract:

Historically, there have been many claims regarding the beneficial effects of music on behaviour and development, but there has been little empirical work to verify them. Our present research studied the effects of providing background music in the classroom on the behaviour and performance in mathematical tasks of ten children attending a school for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, who exhibited a high frequency of disruptive behaviour. There was a significant improvement in behaviour and mathematics performance for all the children. The effects were particularly marked for those whose problems were related to constant stimulus-seeking and over-activity. Improvements were also observed in improved co-operation and a reduction in aggression during the lessons immediately following the study.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8527.t01-1-00063

Publication date: 1998-06-01