The Music USE (MUSE) Questionnaire: An Instrument to Measure Engagement in Music

• Published in: Music perception Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 429 - 446
• Main Authors: Chin, TanChyuan, Rickard, Nikki S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berkeley University of California Press 01.04.2012; University of California Press Books Division
• Subjects: Cognition & reasoning; Demography; Emotions; Music; Music analysis; Music cognition; Music education; Music psychology; Musical aesthetics; Musical expression; Musical improvisation; Musical instruments; Musical performance; Musicians & conductors; Questionnaires; Self evaluation; Studies; Australia; New York; United States > US
• ISSN: 0730-7829; 1533-8312
• DOI: 10.1525/mp.2012.29.4.429

active engagement with music has been associated with cognitive, emotional, and social benefits, although measures of musicianship are typically limited to music training. A self-report questionnaire was developed to assess both quality and quantity of different forms of music use, with eight music background items, and a further 124 items testing music engagement. Analysis of engagement items with an initial sample (N= 210; mean age = 37.55 years,SD= 11.31) generated four reliable engagement styles (Cognitive and Emotional Regulation, Engaged Production, Social Connection, Dance and Physical Exercise). Analysis of an independent sample with a refined 50-item scale (N= 124; mean age = 22.78 years,SD= 6.17) supported the findings, further differentiating between “Physical Exercise” and “Dance.” Taken together with the eight music background items, the Music USE (MUSE) questionnaire can be used as a 58-item, or in a reduced 32-item format. Validity was demonstrated in relationships between music background indices, styles of music engagement, demographics, the brief Music Experience Questionnaire (Werner, Swope, & Heide, 2006), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John, 2003). The MUSE offers researchers a sensitive approach to exploring benefits of music engagement, by encapsulating both quality and quantity dimensions of music use.