Musical Magic?
Reducing Graffiti through Classical g gMusic
Andrew Mitchell
&
L i L l d JLouis Leland Jr.
“There are a number of children running about the streets of Dunedin without the control of f fparents. If the government does not take them at hand they will become members of theat hand they will become members of the criminal class. Youth offending is out of control” (Lambie & Becroft 2006 p 120)control” (Lambie & Becroft, 2006, p.120).
“There is a definite relationship between the increase in the number of children on the fstreets and the increase in juvenile crime” (Lambie & Becroft 2006 p 120)(Lambie & Becroft, 2006, p.120).
• Would it surprise you if I told you the first was from 1884? And the second 1886!!!!!!!
Y h l i i d l i i l• Youth loitering and general antisocial behaviour is an age old problem.... However, we do have some new techniques for combating it...combating it...
The Mozart and Manilow MethodsThe Mozart and Manilow MethodsNot to be confused with the “Mozart Effect”
Mozart Method = Using Classical Music to d h i i l b h i ( i ildeter youth antisocial behaviour (primarily loitering)
Manilow Method = Using EasyManilow Method Using Easy Listening/Dated Music to deter youth antisocial behaviour (primarily loitering)antisocial behaviour (primarily loitering)
Mozart MethodMozart Method
Manilow MethodManilow Method
Purpose: To measure the effect of classical i i l ffi i dmusic as a potential graffiti deterrent
Hypothesis: That there would be more graffiti d it d h l i l i tdeposited when classical music was not playing, and that there would be less deposited when classical music was playing.
The SettingThe Setting
• The setting was a back alley car park area located behind the centre city McDonalds in yDunedin
• The area which was particularly plagued by• The area which was particularly plagued by graffiti was the far wall in which the fire exit
lk l f h ll h bwalk way was located. Of this wall the bottom left corner under the awning was a particularly popular spot to be vandalised.
DesignDesign
l i l b li h l• Multi‐element baseline over two school holiday periods in September and April
• The classical music was a two CD set namedThe classical music was a two CD set named ‘Simply the Best Classical Anthems’
• Graffiti was counted each morning and music was changed according to the randomised schedule
Operational DefinitionOperational Definition
“ h i d i i i d fi• “Any unauthorised inscription, word, figure, painting or other defacement that is written, marked, scratched, sprayed, drawn, affixed, painted or engraved on the designated concrete block wall. A picture, phrase, word, or symbol is counted as one unit of graffiti. If one piece of graffiti is drawn on top of another it was counted as two”
Adapted from Willet (1996)
ResultsResults
• A one‐way analysis of variance with repeated measures showed a significant difference, gF(1,16) = 21.884. p<.0003
• A 83% reduction in graffiti had occurred while music was playing. Down an average of 2.3 pieces per day.pieces per day.
Reliability and Cost BenefitReliability and Cost Benefit
• A reliability recorder was present 29% of the time with an accuracy between recorders of y97%
• If the intervention was continued over a five year period it would cost 75c for every piece of graffiti that was reduced including all costsof graffiti that was reduced including all costs e.g. sound system.
DiscussionDiscussion
• Mozart Method worked... But only for graffiti...g
• Other studies attempting to measure loitering and litter have failed to show a differenceand litter have failed to show a difference
Why?Why?
Two Hypotheses
• ‘Uncool’ hypothesis – That adolescencesUncool hypothesis That adolescences leave the area because the music is incongruent with their self viewincongruent with their self view
• Reduced arousal hypothesis – That adolescences stay but the music has a calming effect on their behavioureffect on their behaviour
What about Manilow?What about Manilow?
What about Manilow?What about Manilow?
• Ratings obtained from High School students showed that they rated classical music in the ysame category as Annoying Asian Karaoke
• While Barry Manilow’s music was considered moderately popular!!!!!!
• Further research using Barry is needed!