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Ariel Tao -Week 2

The second week of my lab began with a small El Sistema group meeting. My PI Ellen, my undergrad student Elizabeth, and I met together to discuss details with data analysis. My new job was to compare the kindergarten (baseline) data to the first year data in SPSS. SPSS is a computer program that performs analysis of variance (ANOVA). ANOVA is a statistical measure that determines whether variance of group means is due to intervention or due to chance. Ellen gave me a quick lesson on using SPSS and analyzing the results that it gives. Then I started working with the data sheet that Elizabeth gave me. I first compared data in the dot-counting test. The within-group variable was age, and the between-group variable was orchestra intervention. My ANOVA analysis gave me results that there was a significant improvement of dot counting with the within-age variable, yet there was weak evidence that orchestral intervention, the between-group variable, actually improved children’s dot-counting skills. In our lab meeting, I listened to another undergraduate student presenting a summary of the research papers that she had read on the perception of emotion in music by autistic children. Another undergrad presented her research on children and objectivity in art.
Dr. Peretz visited me on Thursday. I had nice Japanese food with her and showed her around my lab and the campus of Boston College. I am enjoying my time at the lab and exploring Boston as well. I’m looking forward to doing more ANOVA as well as participating in some remaining interviews with the RAs.
SPSS and ANOVA



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