HAPPY MUSIC MAKES FOR A HAPPY OFFICE

(September, 2016) How does music impact people who are working? Cornell University researchers explored this question in a pair of lab experiments and found that music can have important effects on the cooperative spirits of those exposed to music. In the paper newly published by the Journal of Organizational Behavior, Cornell researchers describe two studies they conducted to test the effect of different types of music on the cooperative behavior of individuals working as a team. For each study, participants were grouped into teams of three. Each team member was given multiple opportunities to either contribute to the team’s value using tokens or keep the tokens for personal use.
– When happy, upbeat music was played — researchers chose the “Happy Days” theme song, “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison, “Yellow Submarine” by the Beatles and “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves — team members were more likely to contribute to the group’s value. When music deemed unpleasant was played — in this case, heavy metal songs by less than well-known bands — participants were more likely to keep tokens for themselves. The researchers found contribution levels to the public good when happy, upbeat songs were played were approximately one-third higher compared to the less pleasant music. The researchers conclude that happy music provokes people to more often make decisions that contribute to the good of the team. Results show that people seem more likely to get into sync with each other if they’re listening to music that has a steady beat.
* Ideally, the researchers said, it should be the music of (your station calls).
* I wonder how playing “Walking on Sunshine” would affect the employees of, say, a funeral parlor?
* Just don’t be the guy in your office that chooses to play Nickelback.
* Be careful playing the high energy stuff or your office might form a mosh pit.
* I’d also not recommend playing the office that song called “Take This Job and Shove It.”
* Wait, they contribute to the team’s value using tokens or keep the tokens themselves? Well, that certainly sounds like an airtight study model.
* Most participants were just happy to be taking the survey and not working