Tuned Souls: The Role of Music in the Lives of Homeless Young People Jill P. Woelfer A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Washington 2014 Reading Committee: David Hendry, Chair Susan Kemp Batya Friedman Julie A. Hersberger Program Authorized to Offer Degree: The Information School ©Copyright 2014 Jill P. Woelfer University of Washington Abstract Tuned Souls: The Role of Music is the Lives of Homeless Young People Jill P. Woelfer Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Associate Professor, David G. Hendry The Information School Although music is considered to be an important part of adolescence and young adulthood, little is known about music and homeless youth. Accordingly, this dissertation research investigated the role of music in the lives of homeless young people, aged 15-25. The study was conducted in Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia and engaged homeless young people (n=202) and service providers staff who work at agencies that provide support for homeless young people (n=24). Homeless young people completed surveys (n=202), design activities, which included drawing and story writing (n=149), and semi-structured interviews (n=40). Service providers completed semi-structured interviews (n=24). Data analysis included descriptive analysis of survey data and qualitative coding of the design activities and interview responses. Findings indicated that music was an important part of everyday life for homeless young people, who listened to music daily (98%), owned music players (89%), and had wide- ranging and eclectic tastes in music which did not vary based on location. Music played a role in emotional control and regulation, in relationships with other people, and homeless young people engaged with music not only through listening, but also by singing, dancing and playing musical instruments. Additionally, the study shows that public libraries and service agencies are key places for homeless young people to access the Internet in order to listen to music, despite evidence that 22% of participants (45/202) had been banned at one time or another from either libraries or service agencies. Findings also indicated that risk-taking behaviors were high among the homeless young people but did not show that music led to particular behaviors. Finally, analysis of the drawings and stories from the design activities indicated that homeless young people could imagine how music devices could help homeless youth in practical ways as well as play a role in service provision for homeless youth and in building relationships with the mainstream community. Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... i Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Research Questions ....................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2: Background .............................................................................................................. 14 Music and risk-taking behavior .................................................................................................... 14 Music preferences of homeless young people .............................................................................. 23 Technology and the welfare of homeless young people ............................................................... 41 Research questions revisited ......................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 3: Homeless Young People and Music ....................................................................... 48 Method .......................................................................................................................................... 48 Setting and Participants................................................................................................................. 52 Procedures ..................................................................................................................................... 53 Survey ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 54 Design Activity ............................................................................................................................................................................. 55 Semi-structured Interviews with Homeless Young People ......................................................................................... 57 Semi-structured Interviews with Service Providers ...................................................................................................... 57 Chapter 4: Findings .................................................................................................................... 61 Overview of Data Analysis ........................................................................................................... 61 Participants .................................................................................................................................... 63 Homeless Young People ........................................................................................................................................................... 63 Service Providers ........................................................................................................................................................................ 65 i Music Importance, Influence and Preferences .............................................................................. 65 The Role of Music ........................................................................................................................ 73 Homeless Young People’s Perspective .............................................................................................................................. 73 The Service Provider Perspective ........................................................................................................................................ 86 Location and Music Preference .................................................................................................... 94 Mediations of Music Listening Experiences................................................................................. 96 Risk-taking and Music Preferences ............................................................................................ 102 Design of Music Devices ............................................................................................................ 114 Practical ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 115 Service-based ............................................................................................................................................................................. 117 Community Relationships ..................................................................................................................................................... 119 Chapter 5: Discussion ............................................................................................................... 126 Findings and Research Questions ............................................................................................... 126 Practical Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 131 Implications for Design............................................................................................................... 132 Limitations and Future Work ...................................................................................................... 133 Chapter 6: Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 135 Aristotle Revisited ...................................................................................................................... 135 References .................................................................................................................................. 138 Appendices ................................................................................................................................. 155 Appendix A: Survey - Homeless Young People......................................................................... 155 Appendix B: Design Activity Sheet ................................................................................................ 1 Appendix C: Interview Protocol – Homeless Young People...................................................... 207 ii Appendix D: Interview Protocol – Service Providers ................................................................. 215 Appendix E: Coding Manual ...................................................................................................... 221 Appendix F: Discography ........................................................................................................... 246 iii List of Figures Figure 1. Music preferences of