Prevention of violence through music: Empirical impact analysis of a music therapy model project

Introduction: This article describes the main results of an empirical impact analysis of a music therapy model project for the prevention of violence in schools, developed and investigated by the author.Methods: Based on the investigation of research hypotheses, the assumed effects of the program were explored in a quasi-experimental evaluation study. The study was carried out in two regular secondary schools (middle schools) in the 5th year level.Results: The experiment showed significant but heterogeneous effects. Of 42 time-by-group interaction effects tested, 21 were significant. In one of the two project classes (treatment groups), the positive effect of violence prevention through the project model was confirmed by the research results throughout. In the other project class, the research hypotheses were predominantly rejected with the exception of a highly significant decrease in the category of aggressive acts.Discussion: The results are analyzed and evaluated in terms of class and project variables. For this purpose, interviews with experts are methodically evaluated in a qualitative analysis, which was carried out after completion of the project work. On the basis of the summaries of these research steps, knowledge is obtained indicating which conditions promote preventative effects, such as relations between the students or common interest in the project work, and under which conditions steps for modification of the program are required, such as little willingness to show consideration for others or a sudden decrease in motivation due to a lack of immediate success and a lack of common interests and goals.