MSMS501 Music Research

Methodology
KARNYUPHA JITTIVADHNA , PH.D.
COLLEGE OF MUSIC
MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY
 Overview for This Week (Jul27)

 Principles of qualitative research

 Principles of quantitative research
 Mixed methods research
 Qualitative Research

 Qualitative study observes:

Participants in a particular context in
the hopes of gaining information that
would be helpful to understanding how
they make meaning of something.
Material objects/ texts for making
inferences by objectively identifying special
characteristics of artifacts or messages
 Data are collected in written form.
 Quantitative Research

 Quantitative research is the systematic

empirical investigation of
phenomena via mathematical
techniques.
 It involves the collection of data
obtained from human participants or
material objects that are numeric in
nature.
 Mixed Methods Research

 It includes both qualitative and

quantitative procedures within the
same study.
 Types of Research Data – Research Tools

 Analysis of documents/ music scores/

audio or visual materials/other material
objects (Notation sheet, research notes,
professional recordings, recordings of one’s
private lesson/ master class, criteria to
review)
 Interviewing (open-ended interview
questions)
 Attitude measures (affective scale
questionnaire)
Frequency Distribution of Element of Jazz Language

Element Bar Number Frequency

Bebop Scale 36, 89 2
Bebop Licks 40, 70 2
Harmonic Generalization 22-23, 24-27, 28-30, 50- 8
52, 58-59, 72-77, 98-100,
107-115
Enclosure 46 1
Linear Chromaticism 18, 34, 36, 82 4
 Interview Questions

 When did you start composing and what or

who were your early passions and
influences?
 What do you usually start with when
composing?
 How do you see the relationship between
timbre and composition?
 What are currently your main
compositional challenges?
 Interview Questions

 What was the general mood of the

performance?
 What do you feel was the peak point,
musically, of the performance?
 What did you like the best about this
concert?
 What did you like the least?
 Other comments?
 Frequency Distribution of Respondents’ Thought

Item Description Frequency

n (%)
1. How would Very poor 0 (0%)
you rate the
music?
Poor 0 (0%)

Fair 0 (0%)
Good 170 (85%)
Excellent 30 (15%)
 Frequency Distribution of Respondents’ Thought

Item Description Frequency

n (%)
1. Expectation Have fun 80 (40%)
of audience
Learn 20 (10%)

New music experience 40 (20%)

Better communicate with peers 10 (5%)
 Sampling Approaches

Probability Nonprobability
 Simple random  Purposeful
 Systematic  Convenience
 Stratified random  Snowball
 Cluster (network)
 Sampling Process

 Define population by specifying

inclusion criteria
 Develop sample recruiting plan
 Determine sample size
 Inclusion Criteria

 Inclusion criteria are defined as the key

features of the target population
(human/ material object) that the
researchers will use to obtain data
appropriate for the study.
 Introduction Section -Example

 Title: Lage Lund’s improvisational style: An

analysis of single note solo lines in three
selected songs
 Background information: Artist profile,
artistic reputation, style, albums, etc.
 Discussion of known literature: Thesis/
dissertation topics relevant to the topic of
interest
 Gap of knowledge: Lack of modern jazz
guitarists’ improvisational style analyses
 Introduction Section -Example

 Purpose of study: This study aims to figure

out harmonic system and jazz languages
commonly used in Lage Lund’s improvisation.
 Objective: To analyze diatonic, non-diatonic
and triadic harmony generalized from three
selected repertoires performed by Lage Lund.
Introduction Section -Example

Scope of the study

 Research design: Descriptive research
 Sample inclusion criteria: Lund’s
pronounced and unique improvisational style
through eight notes. Standard jazz songs, up
tempo swing 4/4, AABA form
 Sample size: 3 songs (Celia, Jazz, and How
Deep is the Ocean) chosen from two albums
and a master class which are from the albums
‘Early Songs (2008)’, ‘Nickelsen Trio (2007)’
and ‘Guitar Duet Master Class (2012)’.
Introduction Section -Example

Scope of the study

 Data collection method: Observation and
analysis of audio and visual materials
 Research tools: Notation sheet, research notes,
professional recordings, recordings of Lund’s
private lesson/master class, Lund’s Jazz Chordal
Vocabulary DVD
 Procedure: Transcribe and analyze the three
selected songs focusing on the improvisation over
diatonic, non-diatonic and triadic harmony.