# Exploring the feasibility of collecting music and wellbeing data to examine intentional listening using a mobile-ESM application

## TL;DR

A study tested a mobile app to track how people intentionally listen to music for well-being, finding differences based on participants' mental states.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel approach to examining intentional music listening for well-being using mobile ESM.

## Key findings

- Participants in different wellbeing categories reported varied experiences of intentional music listening.
- Challenges like self-selection bias and technological limitations were identified in data collection.

## Abstract

This brief report describes a small-scale feasibility study investigating the use of mobile Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM) for collecting data on intentionality in music listening for well-being. Sixteen university students used the MuPsych app (Randall and Rickard, 2012) for a 2-week pilot study (resulting in 263 music listening episode responses), with seven participating in semi-structured follow-up interviews. Data was collected at baseline and then triggered by mobile music listening episodes at 0, 5 and 20 min. Baseline measures were of wellbeing; and listening episode data included music choice, purpose, context, and mood. After assigning listeners to languishing, moderate, or flourishing wellbeing categories, differences became apparent in participants’ experiences of listening to music. Several challenges to feasibility were experienced in self-selection and biased reporting by participants as well as technological limitations of data collection techniques. Recommendations for future ESM studies of everyday music listening are offered.