Date of Conferral
2016
Degree
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
School
Education
Advisor
Nicolae Nistor
Abstract
Administrators at the focus school had not determined if participation in a music program has influenced students' academic achievement, thereby ushering doubt about the utility of this program. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine the impact of the music program on students' English language arts (ELA) and math Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) scores. The theoretical foundation for this study was Miendlarzweska and Trost's model of musical training, which indicates the impact of musical training on academic, social, and cognitive outcomes and identifies factors that mediate that impact. Archival data were retrieved on 74 Grade 5-8 students who participated in the program during the 2012-2013 school year and who also participated during the 2011-2012 school year as Grade 4-7 students. Analysis of covariance indicated no significant effect on ELA or math MAP scores for music program participation. Implications for positive social change include providing initial research findings to the local site on the potential academic impact of this music program. Further research with recent data and larger sample sizes were recommended. Additional research at the local level may yield results that can help administrators better support higher levels of student success.
Recommended Citation
Murray, Joan, "Impact of a Music Program on Students' Standardized Test Scores" (2016). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 2938.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2938
