Functions of Music in Everyday Life: An Exploratory Study Using the Experience Sampling Method

TLDR

Music’s functions in everyday evolving situations are understudied, prompting investigation into real‑time experiences. The study aimed to test the Experience Sampling Method for capturing unfolding musical episodes, compare its consistency with retrospective data, and examine how personal choice and mood relate to music functions. Eight non‑musicians aged 18–40 carried a pager for a week, received random prompts every two hours between 8 am and 10 pm to record brief diary entries, and were interviewed at the week’s end. ESM proved robust; music was heard in 44 % of episodes but rarely the primary focus, serving mainly as accompaniment, and listening—especially when chosen—boosted positivity, alertness, and present‑moment focus.

Abstract

The aim of this exploratory study was to (a) test the viability of the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) as a means of identifying unfolding episodes of everyday musical experience, (b) examine the consistency of situations where music listening occurs by comparing the findings of previous studies involving retrospective data, and (c) investigate the extent to which degree of personal choice over the music and psychological outcomes such as mood change, are associated with participants' descriptions of the functions of music in particular contexts. Eight non-musicians between the ages of 18 and 40 were asked to carry an electronic pager with them for a one-week period. A remote computer activated the pagers once at random in every two-hour period between 0800 and 2200. On each paging, participants were asked to stop what they were doing as soon as practicable and complete a diary of self-report forms with open-ended and scaled items, allowing “on the spot” thoughts and feelings in real life everyday situations to be recorded as sequential episodes. At the end of the week, each respondent was individually interviewed. Results indicated that the ESM is a robust method for exploring daily musical experiences. Although music was heard during 44% of all episodes, few episodes involved listening to music as the primary focus. Rather, music tended to be used as an accompaniment to other activities. Findings also indicated that the experience of music resulted in participants becoming more positive, more alert, and more focussed in the present, particularly where personal choice over the music was involved. The discussion considers some of the implications of the study for future investigations of the functions of music as they occur in everyday evolving situations.