Cognitive Styles and Computer-Based Creativity Support Systems: Two Linked Studies of Electro-acoustic Music Composers

Barry Eaglestone, Nigel Ford, Peter Holdridge, Jenny Carter, Catherine Upton

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper explores cognitive style as one of the factors that may explain tensions that can exist between individual electroacoustic composers and the software they use. The discussion centres on two linked studies: (a) a small scale intensive qualitative case study of 2 established composers, in which they unexpectedly revealed differences that mapped remarkably well onto one of the key dimensions of cognitive style identified in the psychological and cognitive literature, namely global and analytic; and (b) a survey, conducted using a web-based questionnaire, of composers' cognitive styles and approaches to composition. This survey was motivated by study (a). The results of the 2 studies combined suggest that there are characteristic cognitive styles traits within the electroacoustic composer community which correlate with particular approaches to composition and also to levels of satisfaction with composition software. Thus we propose a new area of research, namely, usability studies of computer music software that is sensitive to cognitive styles.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationComputer Music Modeling and Retrieval
Subtitle of host publicationSense of Sounds - 4th International Symposium, CMMR 2007, Revised Papers
EditorsRichard Kronland-Martinet, Sølvi Ystad, Kristoffer Jensen
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages74-97
Number of pages24
ISBN (Electronic)9783540850359
ISBN (Print)9783540850342
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
Event4th International Symposium on Computer Music Modeling and Retrieval: Sense of Sounds - Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: 27 Aug 200731 Aug 2007
Conference number: 4

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume4969 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference4th International Symposium on Computer Music Modeling and Retrieval
Abbreviated titleCMMR 2007
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityCopenhagen
Period27/08/0731/08/07

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