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in General Factchecking by
This article claims that music can help you study.
by Newbie (480 points)
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I think that this could be a good factcheck however you could provide slightly more information rather than just stating what the article is claiming.
by Newbie (250 points)
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I think that your source is good and credible because of the sources that your source states.
by Newbie (490 points)
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This is source is really interesting, because personally music doesn't help me that much to focus, but the source highlights how certain types of music, like instrumental or ambient, can actually improve focus and memory while studying. It’s fascinating how music, when chosen carefully, can reduce anxiety, block distractions, and create a better environment for concentration. This could be a useful strategy for students looking to improve their study habits.
by Novice (680 points)
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To make your post better, I would suggest that you elaborate on what the article is talking about. Simply linking the article is not enough. It is a credible source, as it is coming from a .edu website, however, it would be even stronger if you actually explained what the article was talking about.
by (100 points)
1 0
Music can make studying harder because it distracts your brain from focusing. Songs with lyrics can interfere with reading and understanding, while even instrumental music can take attention away from learning. Studies show that silence or white noise helps people remember information better. Music might improve your mood, but it doesn’t always help you study.

Sources:
https://www.apa.org/https://
www.healthline.com/
by Novice (890 points)
1 0
While I do agree with you, I think you should look into the source I provided below as it is important to acknowledge that personal taste factors into the predictability of listening to certain music/noise while studying. A list of music types and tips are listed that allow an individual to dabble in trial and error that would best align with them during the studying process. Additionally, trial and error in this context would probably help with studying in general as you are reviewing material in a multitude of ways and simply just finding the one that works the best.
source:
https://www.nu.edu/blog/can-music-help-you-study-and-focus/
by (100 points)
0 0
The article provides the best way for music to help people study and provides some evidence that supports their claims, but the article never claims that everyone gets better by studying. Many people get distracted by music when they are studying and the article never claims that those people are wrong just that those who do study with music end up doing better with their studying. It could be that the music is not what is actually making people study better but rather people that can listen to music and study effectively get better results on their exams. What I mean is that it is possible that people with a mind that has the ability to drown out the music and distractions have greater knowledge on their subjects.
by Newbie (340 points)
0 0
I think this is a very interesting fact check, but it would’ve also been interesting to see a source with more qualitative data.
by (100 points)
1 0
Research supports the idea that certain types of music (classical, lo-fi, instrumental) can enhance focus, memory, and relaxation. A study published in the journal Psychology of Music found that listening to music while studying can reduce stress and improve cognitive performance in certain cases. However, the effect of music on studying depends on the type of task and the complexity of the music. Simple, instrumental music = Positive effect on focus. Complex, lyrical music = Potential distraction. So this claim is true to an extent.

43 Answers

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by Newbie (300 points)

The article from the University of Maryland states that music can help people study more effectively by improving focus and reducing distractions and I'd say I agree but it really depends on the type of music you're listening too some times the music itself can distract you from studying, like an article from The University of Wollongong Australia says that Australian researcher bill Thompson did an experiment and he and his colleagues found out that the only time there was decrease in performance was when they played fast and loud music.

In the article from the university of Maryland  It says instrumental, ambient music and binaural beats effectively enhances peoples concentration. Many articles support that music can positively impact cognitive function, with multiple studies showing that the type of music matters. A professor in the Department of Marriage and Family Science explains, “Music has the potential to take a person from the Beta brainwave state to deeper Alpha, and then Theta brainwave states, depending on the music.” The University of Maryland article shows us various types of music that can help in studying, reinstating the idea that the right music can improve focus and academic performance.

sources:

https://www.nu.edu/blog/can-music-help-you-study-and-focus/

https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2019/is-it-ok-to-listen-to-music-while-studying.php#:~:text=On%20the%20other%20hand%2C%20music,volume%20of%20a%20vacuum%20cleaner).

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by Newbie (300 points)

Although listening to music can make studying more smooth and enjoyable, psychologists from the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences have found that this popular study habit is more distracting than beneficial. This theory is proven through how humans are incapable of multitasking, when you're studying and listening to music you retain less information . Although its possible to study and retain some information while listening to music its proven that when you're listening to music you need the same sounds when you are taking the exam which isn't a realistic in a testing environment. Concluding it's a false statement but some individuals may listen to music while studying due to anxiety which music is proven to help with anxiety. 

https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/blog/2021/03/10/does-listening-to-music-really-help-you-study/ 

False
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by Newbie (300 points)

Multiple sources discuss whether music has ties to improving studying. While there are different preferences for everyone with varying results on the genre, the article How Music Can Help You Study, from the University of Maryland, states “The right choice of music, such as instrumental or ambient music, can help block out distractions, improve concentration, and maintain attention during study sessions.” Music with lyrics can be distracting in some cases, pulling away from the topic of studying. Still, ambient/instrumental music tends to always be beneficial as it offers good, nondistracting, background music. 

https://www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study

Can't be true or false (Opinion, poem, etc.)
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by (140 points)

In this claim the UMGC references a survey for a study done by AARP on the effects of listening to music while doing everyday activities. The link in this claim is a source that provides lots of studies and credits to certain professors and groups. The claim was published in 2024 and most of the studies are recent information. The source is a University with trusted information that makes blog posts with other claims such as  " Is college worth it? The short answer Is yes" which implies their posts are bias though the reliable sources they include persuade it to seem balanced with bias and facts. The source gives examples of some music types that could be beneficial while I do believe the general claim of music helping you to study to have some holes. This claim appears valid to an extent. Other studies have been done similar to this such as does-listening-to-music-really-help-you-study by Texas A&M University and it says it depends on the person and its not a one size fits all situation where it benefits all people equally. 

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by Newbie (280 points)

I think this is true. The University of Maryland fully supports listening to music while you are studying as a beneficial thing based on some reliable data and study. They suggest instrumental or ambient music to listen to during studying that does not have any lyrics and note that you should keep a moderate volume. The Florida National University also claims that music helps you study from different perspectives than the University of Maryland, such as stress, brain, or psychology.

https://www.fnu.edu/benefits-studying-music/

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by Newbie (240 points)
The source of the claim that music can help you study is credible. The source you provided is credible; some of the statements were quoted by an individual with a PhD, Director of Psychology at University of Maryland Global Campus, who possesses a strong background in the area. Also, the NIH backed up some of the claims that binaural beats help with studying. NIH is a highly credible source. Since articles through the NIH go through multiple reviews before they get published.
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by (180 points)

This certain topic can depend on the kind of person that someone is. One reason music can help you study is types of music, especially instrumental or lo-fi beats, help reduce distractions by masking background noise. Ever been in a loud café or busy house while trying to study? Music creates a kind of sound "bubble" that helps you stay locked in. One other reason music can help you study is the way that some music can enhance your mood. According to studies by Pfizer listening to certain music can temporarily enhance memory and cognitive performance. While it's debated, many students still swear by it for memorizing notes or prepping for exams. The chills you feel when you hear a particularly moving piece of music may be the result of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that triggers sensations of pleasure and well-being.

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by Newbie (230 points)
0 0
I agree that the impact of music while studying really depends on the person. I’ve found that low bass music helps me focus, especially when there’s background noise I can’t control. That idea of a 'sound bubble' is spot on. It’s also fascinating how music can boost your mood and even memory. The Pfizer study  was a good example too; it’s cool to see some science behind what so many of us feel
by (140 points)
0 0
I think you made a strong case for how music can help you study. I agree with your statement that it really comes down to personal preference. One thing that I would suggest would look more into the source you talked about. I'm not sure if the article was reviewed since it is a pharmaceutical company. I also think adding a little bit more detail would strengthen your response. Overall, I think you did a great job of fact checking this claim.
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by Newbie (340 points)
I agree with this claim, the link showed a lot of good facts about the claim and gave great support to the argument. I also believe that this is true based on personal experience which I  think is important as well as the scientific and factual aspect.
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by Newbie (230 points)
edited by

Yes, it does help a person study and it is a good fact check. Although, a strong piece of evidence from the article backing up the claim would help with your reasoning of your claim. An example is that “A study done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Institute of Health (NIH) showed that listening to 15Hz binaural beats during a working memory task increased the response accuracy of the subjects by about three percent over five minutes. The study found that listening to 15Hz binaural beats can be used to successfully help with working memory performance. There are a variety of 15Hz study playlists across almost every music streaming platform that students can listen to during their study sessions to help support memory retention.” There are better pieces of evidence out there to support the claim.  Another article, https://www.fnu.edu/benefits-studying-music/, provides better supporting evidence, stating that A study done by Cambridge University showed that hip-hop music provides an uplifting effect on its listeners that can help them accept, manage and deal better with mental health issues. There’s more than one genre of rap, so find the one you like if it means giving your brain that extra bit of support it needs.” These articles are both good in their own rights but there are better pieces of evidence out there to support your claim rather than just that one website.

  1. Sources.

    1. https://www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study.

    2. https://www.fnu.edu/benefits-studying-music/

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by (140 points)
edited by

The claim that music helps you study is supported by an article from the University of Maryland Global Campus. The article cites a few credible sources, such as the National Institutes of Health, which support the idea that music helps study. The article appears to be science related, and the information provided is consistent with the title. Additionally, the article was published on September 16, 2024, making it relevant. However, early on in the article, it states that "instrumental or unfamiliar music can be beneficial because it reduces the likelihood of getting caught up in the lyrics," This can mislead readers because people think that music refers to any type of genre. While the claim contains a source that has credible references and detail, there are many articles that argue against listening to music. Music and Studying: It's Complicated, published in 2022, warns against listening to music, as it splits our attention and increases cognitive load. This article is medically reviewed by Karin Gepp, who is a Doctor of Psychology. The author breaks down how music can interfere with our brain and make it harder to recall information. Ultimately, the claim that music can help you study is backed up with articles that support their claim. However, while some people can benefit from listening to music while studying, it depends on the person. There are many sources that support each side 

Music and Studying: Do They Go Together?

Exaggerated/ Misleading

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