(Posted 5th September 2024)
A researcher invites people who stammer to take part in a study in York into how speech differences affect listener perceptions.
Lotte Eijk from the University of York says, "Research shows that we make unsupported judgements about other peoples' traits and likely behaviour based on their voices. These judgements can be problematic in high-stakes scenarios such as police interviews. They are likely to be particularly problematic for speakers who do not have 'typical' voices — voices that are often overlooked in research.
'In this project, we will explore how speech fluency differences shape perceptions of speakers in the context of police interviews".
What will it involve?
Lotte and her team are looking for people who stammer, and who can travel to York, to do some voice recordings. This will include:
- Simulating a police interview. Lotte will use this to assess the impact of different voice features on perceptions of interviewees.
- An interview with you to understand your experiences around your own voice and voice perception.
The session will take 2 hours maximum. They'll give you £15 pounds worth of Amazon vouchers per hour and (if applicable) you'll be compensated for reasonable travel.
How will it benefit the stammering community?
Lotte says, "With this project, we want to improve our understanding of how having an 'atypical' voice impacts individuals in high-stakes settings. This will allow us to raise awareness of — and ultimately address — such potential issues. The database we'll create will also facilitate further studies both within and beyond this area, improving our broader understanding of the impact of vocal features on perceptions in social justice settings".
Contact
If you can travel to York and would like to take part, or for more information, email Lotte at Lotte.eijk@york.ac.uk
This study has been approved by the STAMMA Research Panel. To find out more, see Take Part In Stammering Research, where you can also see a list of other studies you can take part in.
