Case-study analysis of various field study measures

The purpose of this study was to measure the reliability, sensitivity and validity of two types of field study measures: subjective rating techniques and self-assessment scales. Eight listeners with hearing loss served as subjects. In a laboratory study two Frequency-Gain-Characteristics (FGCs) were selected; one which subjects rated as having better speech clarity and one which subjects rated as having poorer speech clarity. The clarity ratings for the two FGCs were the criterion measure to which the results of the field studies were compared. Subjects wore each of the two FGCs in the real world for six, one-week time periods. During each week subjects completed either category ratings or paired comparisons. Two self-assessment scales were also completed. The paired comparison technique was the field study measure with the best psychometric characteristics.