Evaluating the results of a perceptual test battery probing musicality
This project is part of a series of studies contributing to an interdisciplinary research agenda on musicality (Honing, 2022). The main aim is to develop a variety of methods to probe musicality in a variety of geographical regions.
- Status: Call closed
- Starting date: Between October 2024 and February 2025
- Outcome: report / thesis
Project description
We are seeking a Master’s level student with an interest in empirical musicology or cognitive science to contribute to the analysis of behaviorial data from a perceptual test battery.
This Musicality Test Battery was used to assess cognitive and musicality traits in members of a hunter-gatherer society (see Lewis, 2013). The data was gathered during a recent field trip coordinated by profs. Karline Janmaat and Henkjan Honing (see Honing, 2022: WP3) using test stimuli that were designed during a former internship (Wells, 2024) following the PROMS paradigm (Law & Zentner, 2012).
The intern will gain practical experience in data cleaning, statistical analysis, visualizing the results, and recommending potential improvements to the test methodology. This project is part of a broader, interdisciplinary research initiative on musicality (Honing, 2022).
Requirements
- BSc in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Musicology, or related fields
- Familiarity with R
- Open-mindedness
- Interest in music cognition and/or cross-cultural studies
Contact
dr N. Henry or J. Li
References
Honing, H. (2022). Unravelling our capacity for music (Research Proposal NWO-OC). [Pure]
Law, L. N., & Zentner, M. (2012). Assessing musical abilities objectively: Construction and validation of the profile of music perception skills. PloS ONE, 7(12), e52508. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.00525082.
Lewis J. (2013). A cross-cultural perspective on the significance of music and dance to culture and society: insight from BaYaka Pygmies. Language, music, and the brain: a mysterious relationship (ed. & Arbib M), pp. 45–65. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. doi: 10.7551/mitpress/9780262018104.003.0002.
Wells, W. (2024). The Role of Enculturation and Musical Sophistication in Perceptual Test Performance: Insights from Testing a Western Population with a Non-Western Test Battery. Master thesis [unpublished], University of Amsterdam.