TITLE: Music Preference and Personality Type of Selected Asian Students

AUTHOR: Maningas, Alexander Roger S.

Castronuevo, Eva A.

PUBLISHER: The Bedan Journal of Psychology 2017

INTRODUCTION:

Music is developed through combination of different sounds to

make harmony. Several researches has proven that music has beneficial
use to people, not just a mere entertainment. It is therapeutic to people
and helps express their deepest feelings. Several studies also linked music
preference to distinct personality traits. Personality makes a person a
unique individual. Different theories proposed various number and cluster
of personality traits. Many contemporary psychologists support the idea
of five basic dimensions of personality, namely: extraversion,
agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness and neuroticism.
Extroversion comprises traits such as excitability, sociability, assertiveness,
expressiveness and loquaciousness. Agreeableness includes prosocial
behaviours such as trust, selflessness, compassion and cooperativeness
in a group. Conscientiousness is characterized with high levels of
thoughtfulness, self-control and goal-driven attitude. Neuroticism is a
personality trait that is regarded with unhappiness, irritability and
instability emotion. Lastly, high level of openness is associated with traits
like being adventurous, creative and abstract-thinker.

The study aimed to address the following research problems:

(1) What is the music preference profile of the respondents?;
(2) What is the personality type profile of the respondents?;
(3) Is there a significant association between the music
preference and personality traits of the respondents?
 In line the with the research problems, the researcher deemed that
there is a significant association between music preference and
personality type of the respondents.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This study used descriptive correlation design to address the

hypotheses presented on this research. The quantitative method of
research design was used since it is best employed to determine whether
two or more quantitative variables are significantly associated to each
other. Likewise, the study attempted to determine if there is a relationship
or association between the personality type and music preference of the
respondents.
Two (2) standardized test instruments were used. One was the Ten
Item Personality Measure (TIPI) developed by Gosling, Rentrow and
Swann. This was constructed in response to the need of a much briefer
measures of the Big Five Personality dimensions without sacrificing the
validity and reliability of the test. The test items are answerable on a 7-
point scale ranging from 1 (disagree strongly) to 7 (agree strongly). The
raw scores were computed and compared to the standards for each
dimension of personality with its corresponding verbal description. The
test reached adequate levels in all the criteria, namely: convergent and
discriminant validity, test-retest reliability and patterns of external
correlates to other tests that measure similar psychological construct
(Gosling, Rentrow and Swann, 2013). Raquel Santos and Bullecer (2015),
who used the same instrument in their research, explained that the scale
is reasonably valid since it is proven significantly correlated with other
tests.
In addition, the Short Test of Music Preferences of Rentrow and
Gosling (2003) was used to obtain data about the music preference of
the respondents. All music genres (hip hop, rock acoustic etc.) are listed
down and grouped into four music dimensions: reflective and complex,
intense and rebellious, upbeat and conventional, and energetic and
rhythmic. Each item is rated on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (Strongly
Dislike) to 7 (Strongly Like). The average of the raw scores for each
dimension was computed and ranked to determine the music
preference of the respondents.
Online surveys on Asian College students from 11 colleges and
universities in Metro Manila was made by the researcher in gathering
information. Initially, the researcher sent a letter of request to conduct
study to different schools but none responded positively. Hence, the
researcher opted to use referral sampling to gather the desired
respondents. They were given access to answer the survey online through
Google Docs Application.

INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS:

There were three (3) research questions that was answered: (1)
What is the music preference profile of the respondents? (2) What is the
personality type’s profile of the respondents?; and (3) Is there a significant
association between the music preference and personality traits of the
respondents?.
In the first question, generally, most of the respondents preferred
Energetic and Rhythmic music such as Dance/Electronica, Rap/Hip hop
and Soul/Funk. 38 of the respondents liked Upbeat & Conventional music,
and 17 preferred Reflective & Complex music while they least prefer
Intense & Rebellious music. In the second question, most of the
respondents’ scores for Extraversion suggesting personality traits of being
sociable and assertive. Accordingly, the respondents’ scores fall on
Medium Low for Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability,
and Openness to Experience suggesting tendency to be analytical,
controlling, sensitive and easy going. In the third question, Extraversion is
significantly associated with music preference. The respondents mostly
preferred Energetic and Rhythmic music and Upbeat & Conventional
music. The result is highly expected since Energetic and Upbeat music is
common in social gathering and it corresponds well with the desire of
people with high extraversion for socialization. Hence, the researchers
find a correlation between music preference and personality traits.

ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION
The ideas and information in the research were well presented. It
was logical and concise. As a reader, I was able to grasp the necessary
ideas obtained in the study.

THE VALUE OF THE STUDY

The research problem was significant. It proves that music
preference of the Asian College students has impact on their personality
trait. This research was good in order to guide students to choose musics
that may help create their personality as better individuals. But in this
study, there were inconsistent findings from past researches that may be
due to cultural differences, hence, a need for future study considering
the culture and the ethnic background of the respondents.
TITLE: Effects of a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention on Career Indecision

AUTHOR: Jesus Alfonso Datu

De La Salle University, Philippines

INTRODUCTION:

In our society, there are number of clients who are undecided

about specific career paths which counsellors are confronted with newer
tasks in providing appropriate vocational guidance services. Transitions
in career or educational status often result to some degree of career
indecision. It is a phenomenon wherein individuals are confronted with
difficulties in making career choices which result to failure in attaining a
vocational commitment. This involves an interweaving of intrapersonal,
interpersonal and contextual factors. Researchers identified different
determinants which includes emotional intelligence, personality traits,
anxiety, insufficient primary support, academic self-esteem, parenting
behaviors, self-efficacy and career decision-making self-efficacy.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy is a therapeutic orientation used in
addressing psychological and emotional concers of a wide array of
clientele. This therapy views that an individual is capable of changing in
spite of the extrinsic variables.
This study focused on the effects of a cognitive-behavioral
treatment approach in career indecision levels of Filipino college
students. The study aims to establish more evidences about the potential
utility of cognitive-behavioral interventions, especially in career decision-
making concerns.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHOD

In the Philippines, there is a scarcity of studies done to test for the

efficacy of theoretically-grounded interventions for career-related issues,
to overcome career decision-making difficulties of Filipino college
students is more challenging. This study employed an outcome research
design. The method performed in this study was feasible. A one-group
pre-test/ post-test design to look at the effects of a treatment on a
particular behavioural outcomes was made. Forty Three first year college
students ages 16-18 were recruited from one class in a private university
in Metro Manila taking Bachelor of Science in Electronics and
Communications Engineering. Prior to intervention, the students had
some negative thought about the course they have undertaken. There
were three (3) instruments that were used in the study: Career Decision
Profile, Short Essay and Observation Notes. Both quantitative and
qualitative research were included to depict a clear picture of career
indecision as perceived by the participants. The research was ethically
conducted. Informed consent were distributed to the participants. The
method addressed questions of validity allowing participants to answer
on their own. Thoughts about their career decisions were shared by the
participants.

INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS

Prior intervention, participants have relatively low levels of career

indecision. However, qualitative analyses of the short essays shows that
they have negative thoughts that affect the way their ability to become
decided about a specific career path. After intervention, there is a
statistically significant difference on the participant’s level of career
indecision. An increase in self-clarity was observed.
It may be deduced from the study that to further test
interventions that modify faulty cognitions predictive of career indecision
instead of simply identifying its predictors, further studies should be
conducted.

VALUE OF THE STUDY

The research study was very much significant nowadays due to the
fact that most professionals were geared toward working specific tasks
that are somehow not related to their field of study during their college
days. This study shows that there were several factors affecting career
indecision of clients which may help our government in seeking
interventions to minimize such problems.