Background Music Listening During Computer-Based Work: Frequency and Self-Reported Concentration

Abstract

Background music (BgM) listening refers to playing music while performing another task. Although previous research has examined how different types of music affect the performance of various cognitive tasks, little is known about how frequently individuals choose to listen to BgM during everyday work. The present study examined the proportion of computer-based work time spent listening to BgM (BgM%) and its association with self-reported concentration. Seventy participants were recruited through personal contacts and social media. Participants included 37 women (53%) and 33 men (47%), of ages ranging from 22 to 64 years (M = 32.01, SD = 9.36). The recruitment request emphasized that the questionnaire was intended for both those who do and do not listen to BgM while working. Participants estimated the percentage of their computer-based work time spent listening to BgM. The mean BgM% was 41%, with substantial variability (SD = 32%). Contrary to expectations, the distribution of BgM listening was not bimodal. Only 18% reported never listening to BgM while working on their computers, and the remaining participants were almost evenly divided across low, medium, and high BgM-use categories. Participants also rated their agreement/disagreement with the statement “BgM helps me concentrate while working on the computer” on a Likert scale. A Spearman correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association between BgM% and perceived concentration, r(68) = 0.78, p < 0.001. This suggests that individuals’ beliefs about BgM’s impact on their concentration largely determine their BgM-listening behavior. Future research should test whether these subjective concentration assessments correspond to objective performance outcomes.

Keywords: Background Music, Computer-based Work, Concentration

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007306