3 experiments+specifics write up.

experiment 1.

HYPOTHESIS: If you remove the physical voice associated with a song, showing only written lyrics then, the original meaning is replaced with a literal interpretation.

MATERIALS: Regularly formatted typed out lyrics on paper, laptop or iPod to play the song, paper, pen

TIME: ≤10 minutes.

PLACE: Somewhere quiet, otherwise location is not a major factor in this experiment

ACTIVITY: First, have the user read a set of lyrics and write down what they believe to be the meaning of the lyrics. Then, play the song+have them still look at the lyrics and then write down what they think the meaning of the lyrics are.

HOW TO JUDGE OUTCOME: See whether or not the meaning of the song changes with the user from simply reading the lyrics to listening+reading changes.

experiment 2.

HYPOTHESIS: If you provide the background behind the lyrics of a song, then the user would understand the band’s choice of words, placement, and meaning behind the song.

MATERIALS: Gathered information about the band+song, typed up lyrics, paper, pen

TIME: ≤10 minutes.

PLACE: Somewhere quiet, otherwise location is not a major factor in this experiment

ACTIVITY: First, have the user read the set of lyrics, while listening to the song. Then have the user write down what they believe to be the meaning of the lyrics. Then, describe to the user the band+story behind the song. Then play the song again (and let them read along) and then write down what they think the meaning of the lyrics are…does the user agree?

HOW TO JUDGE OUTCOME: If the user agrees with the use, placement and understandability of the layout then the band/singer was successful. If the user cannot make the connection then it was not a successful experiment.

experiment 3.

HYPOTHESIS: If you place a quote from a book into the physical world, then the meaning of the statement will reflect the new environment it’s now placed in.

MATERIALS: Full quote/paragraph written out, 

TIME: ≤10 minutes per user.

PLACE: KCAI school grounds or just somewhere quiet.

ACTIVITY: Either simply cut out the letters/words and place outside or use some form of material to create the letters. Wait to see if anyone interacts with the quote. If they do, ask they what they think it means and then ask them to then read the passage from the book+explain what they think it means, or if it has the exact same meaning as in the outdoor version.

HOW TO JUDGE OUTCOME: If the user’s meaning of the message changed with the location of the text, then the environment directly around the quote impacts how it will be interpreted.

*CHANGE AN EXPERIMENT* to be one song that was covered by various bands/artists/singers, each one having its own interpretation, emphasis, focus.