Third International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

Since the introduction of the iPod in 2001 handheld electronics that store or stream compressed music files have steadily become the standard devices used for listening to music. A growing body of research investigates listening experiences as they are mediated by these devices (Bickford 2011; Bull 2008). I contribute to this body of research by introducing the “Integration in Consciousness” (IC) model as a way to characterize the experiences. Resulting from a grounded theory study, the IC model details the interaction among the musical sounds, simultaneous listener activities, and the nature of listener engagements. In the study ten college students from three institutions underwent iterative interviews; questions were developed from McCarthy and Wright’s (2004) Deweyan method for investigating user experiences with technology. Analysis yielded four axial codes as well as the IC model. I provide comparisons between the IC model and general models of music listening derived from other disciplines and methodologies (e.g. Dunn’s and Stockfelt’s). An important difference between the IC model and general models of music listening is the role played by simultaneous activities in the IC model. I explore possible explanations for this difference along the lines of methodology, scope of the study, and disciplinary perspective.