Unusualness as a predictor of music preference

Bibliographic Data

ID20407941
AuthorsAgnieszka Chmiel (0000-0003-3294-0534, The University of New South Wales, Australia), Emery Schubert (0000-0002-6541-8083, The University of New South Wales, Australia, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume23
Issue4
Pages426-441
Publication date2019-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMusicae Scientiae (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1029-8649 • E-ISSN: 2045-4147
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1029864917752545
OpenAlexW2783956242
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited26

This paper investigates the role of unusualness ratings in predicting music preference. In addition, the variables complexity and familiarity were rated for five music stimuli covering a range of styles. Ninety-four participants were exposed to each stimulus ten times over a three-week period. The three variables were tested as predictors of preference using linear and quadratic curve-fitting procedures. A linear increasing relationship was observed for familiarity, and inverted-U relationships were observed for unusualness and complexity. These results are consistent with Berlyne’s inverted-U model, or a segment of the inverted-U in the case of familiarity. Unusualness was a good indicator of music preference, and explained more variance than complexity or familiarity. Furthermore, the two stimuli that scored highest in unusualness produced consistently low ratings of preference independent of exposure, which appears to be a hallmark of “extreme” music stimuli

Analysis of variance · Audiology · Cognitive psychology · Preference · Statistics · Diverse Music Education Insights · Mathematics · Music and Audio Processing · Neuroscience and Music Perception · Psychology · Social Psychology

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