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Abstract

This two-part study examined perceptual differences between expert and novice music listeners using multidimensional scaling techniques (ALSCAL and INDSCAL). In part one, novice subjects (N = 174), elementary education majors enrolled in a music methods course, rated for similarity all possible pairings of 15 musical excerpts drawn from European art music composed between 1762 and 1896. Proximities generated a three-dimensional scaling solution (r = .73, Kruskal's stress = *20). The three dimensions were interpreted as secondary musical parameters related to musical activity and character and evaluations of pleasingness by the listener. INDSCAL techniques were used in part two to compare the weights for the salient dimensions in a three-dimensional solution for novices (= *70, stress = .22) and experts (r2 = -83, stress = -16). Weighted most salient for experts was Dimension 1 (.72), related to historical period. Weighted most important for l novices were Dimensions 2 (-51) and 3 (-57), related to secondary musical parameters of activity, character and evaluations of pleasingness.

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Perceptual Differences between Expert and Novice Music Listeners: A Multidimensional Scaling Analysis

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