Methods

Experiments

We designed two experiments, one an interactive painting experiment and the other a simple six-question survey. 34 interactive experiments were conducted and 32 surveys were completed. Subjects either participated in the experiment OR the survey, but not both, so individuals who took the survey were not the same individuals who took part in the interactive experiments.

For the interactive experiment, we compiled a music file which consisted of six different 30-second tracks of music. Each track was a portion of a song from a unique genre of music. Subjects listened to the tracks while painting in a simple digital paint program (Microsoft Paint, standard on any PC). Between each track was a break of silence, allowing the subject time to save his or her painting and start a new file, beginning the next painting when the next track began. The experiment resulted in each subject having made six different paint files, one for each genre of music.

The subjects were allowed to paint using any color or colors they wished, using whatever brush stroke styles they wanted. They were also allowed complete freedom to draw pictures, or to simply doodle abstractly.

The interactive experiment consisted of the following music genres, which were represented by these specific selections:

1. Classical - Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland
2. Reggae - Three Little Birds by Bob Marley
3. Pop - If You Seek Amy by Britney Spears
4. Techno - I Wish by Infected Mushroom
5. Jazz/Big Band - Harlem Air Shaft by Duke Ellington
6. Alternative - Venus in Furs by Velvet Underground

The survey listed the six music genres, in the above order, but without specifically naming the songs. Subjects were asked which color they think of when they hear each type of music. They were asked to write down the first color that came to mind. Subjects were not limited to a predetermined list of colors; they were allowed to choose any color.

Participants

Subjects who participated in these experiments ranged in age and gender. Education levels ranged from high school through the PhD level. Most individuals who participated in the interactive experiment had some computer experience. The level of experience ranged from limited to advanced. Most were familiar with some form of digital paint program.

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that while engaged in creating art - in this case digital art - a subject's choice of colors would be affected depending on the style of music they were exposed to. We believed that the characteristics of their color choices would correlate with the characteristics of the particular music piece they listened to. We also thought that the colors people tended to use while painting under the influence of music would correlate with the colors people think of when asked to match a color with a genre.

Variables

In the interactive experiment, our dependent (responding) variable was the color choices. Our independent (manipulated) variable was the style of music (specifically six music genres). Our controlled variables were the Microsoft Paint program, the amount of time alloted to paint and the music file containing the six different genres of music (one music file containing the same six music selections, in the same order, for the same length of time).

For the survey, our dependent variable was the color choice for each genre. Our independent variable was the genre listed. Our controlled variable was the survey form - we use the same survey form for each participant, with the exact same list of genres in the same order.