GROUP TASK #2: Question, Theory, Conjecture or Hypothesis
ANSWERS / DISCUSSION
Identify whether the following statements are questions, theories, conjectures, hypotheses or none.
Why do performers tend to slow down at the ends of phrases?
This is a question.
Beethoven’s metronome markings are too fast because his metronome was broken.
This is a theory: it proposes a causal explanation. Note the use of the word “because.” (A common mistake is to think that “theories” make big or sweeping generalizations; theories can be small and focus on minor phenomena.)
Much of the popularity of World Music is due to commercial exploitation.
This is a theory: it proposes a causal explanation — although the mechanism of influence (“commercial exploitation”) may be a bit vague. Note the use of the phrase “due to”.
How is it that listening to music can sometimes cause shivers to run up-and-down your spine?
This is a question.
The language we use shapes the way we think.
Note that the word “shapes” could be replaced by synonyms such as “affects” or “influences.” In effect, the claim is that language “causes” us to think differently. Consequently, it is appropriate to regard this as a theory.
Brahms uses a lot of hemiolas in his music.
This is a hypothesis. It is easily tested.
Brahms liked hemiolas.
Unless Brahms wrote a letter or otherwise communicated that he “likes” (or dislikes) hemiolas, it would be difficult or impossible to determine what he “likes.” Consequently, it is better to call this a conjecture rather than a hypothesis.
Africans have a better sense of rhythm than Europeans.
If you think “sense of rhythm” is not possible to measure, then this is a conjecture. Otherwise it is a hypothesis.
The music of Carl Nielsen echoes the spirit of the Danish people.
As written, this statement admits several different interpretations. It is often helpful to try re-writing a statement in order to gain some clarity. For example, we might re-write this statement as follows: “The Danish spirit is echoed in the music of Carl Nielsen.” This suggests that being Danish influenced Nielsen’s music. Formulated this way, the statement would be regarded as a theory.
“Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.”
(Quote from William Congreve, 1697). This is a conjecture or hypothesis.
Raag Shree sounds sad to experienced Indian listeners.
This is a hypothesis. In principle, this claim could be easily tested.
The music of the Lakota has been influential primarily because of frequent portrayals of Plains Indians in Hollywood films.
This is a theory: it proposes a causal explanation for the widespread influence of Lakota music. Note the use of the word “because.”
The purpose of our research is to study the relationship between music and ritual.
This is not a question.
It is not a theory since no cause is proposed.
It could be construed as a conjecture or hypothesis if there were some doubt about the purpose of the research (say, if two collaborators were arguing about what they are doing). E.g.
Researcher 1: The purpose of our research is … music and ritual. Researcher 2: No, no, the purpose of our research is … music and dance.
But this is a stretch.
The best answer is “none.”
Notice that, as a research goal, it would be much better to say “The purpose of our research is to understand the relationship between music and ritual.” The “study” of something may be a reasonable goal for a student, but not for a researcher.