Measuring musical aptitude in children: On the role of age, handedness, scholastic achievement, and socioeconomic status

Good, James, Aggleton, John, Kentridge, Robert, Barker, Julian and Neave, Nick (1997) Measuring musical aptitude in children: On the role of age, handedness, scholastic achievement, and socioeconomic status. Psychology of Music, 25 (1). pp. 57-69. ISSN 0305 7356

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Abstract

Scores on the Bentley Measures of Musical Ability test (BMMA) for 897 seven-or eight-year-old children were analysed with respect to a number of factors which previous research suggested might be associated with test performance. Comparisons between the 17 schools participating revealed that the same schools tended to produce either high or low scores. Further analyses revealed a significant relationship between BMMA scores and assessments of school achievement (Standard Attainment Targets - SATs). An association was also present between those schools scoring poorly on the BMMA and those containing relatively large numbers of children receiving subsidised school meals. There was also an association with age. No significant relationship was found, however, between handedness and BMMA scores. The results not only identify some specific limitations of the BMMA, but also point to more general problems in interpreting tests designed to screen for musical ability in children.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	C800 Psychology W300 Music
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	27 Jan 2015 16:18
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2019 16:27
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/20373

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