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AN EXPLORATION OF PERSONALITY TRAITS
IN OLDER ADULT AMATEUR MUSICIANS
DON D. COFFMAN
University of Iowa
Abstract
The primary research question for the study was, “Will older adult amateur musicians’ personality profiles reflect the traits found in professional musicians?” Participants (N = 58, ages 52 to 79) recruited from a New Horizons Institute “band camp” for older adult amateur musicians completed a musical background questionnaire and the Cattell (1993) Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, Fifth Edition (16PF) on their own time during the five-day camp. Group scores for all the 16PF primary and global factor scores were within expected ranges for a normal population of adults, although Factor B (Reasoning) was noticeably higher and Factors E (Dominance), F (Liveliness) and L (Vigilance) were noticeably lower, as was the global factor IN (Independence). This suggests that this sample “leans” toward being more accommodating (IN-), deferential (E-), serious (F-), trusting (L-), and thinking more abstractly (B+) than adults in Cattell’s normative population. The 16 primary and five secondary factors were analyzed using a gender by experience (2 x 2) MANOVA, revealing a significant gender by experience interaction, which was the impetus for follow-up univariate analyses. Three primary factors showed significant between-group differences: L (Vigilance), N (Privateness), and Q1 (Open to Change). Male newcomers were more trusting (L-) and disclosing (N-), although the opposite tendencies were found for male returnees (individuals whose instruments were the ones they had played in high school or college). Female returnees were more open to change than male returnees. A 2 x 2 chi-square analysis of gender by experience revealed that older adult females were more likely to begin a new instrument than were men.
About the Author
Dr. Don Coffman is professor and head of music education at
The University of Iowa. He teaches undergraduate courses in conducting
and instrumental methods. His graduate courses include techniques for
researching and measuring musical behaviors. An active researcher in
lifelong music learning, he is the former Chair of MENC's Adult and
Community Special Research Interest Group. He has served on the
editorial board of the Music Educators National Conference's Journal of
Research in Music Education and currently serves on MENC's Music
Education Research Council, the executive board of the Society for
Research in Music Education. He is also a board member for the Community
Music Activities Commission of the International Society for Music
Education. His writings have appeared in all the leading music education
research journals. Professor Coffman directs the Iowa City/Johnson
County Senior Center New Horizons Band, which provides an opportunity
for "chronologically gifted" adults to learn or reacquaint themselves
with wind and percussion instrumental music. In 2006 he was honored for
his work with his New Horizons Band with three awards: The University of
Iowa President's Award for State Outreach and Public Engagement, the
State of Iowa Governor's Volunteer Award, and the Outstanding Continuing
Educator Award from the Johnson County chapter of AARP. He holds a BME
and PhD from the University of Kansas and an MME from Wichita State
University.
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