Listener perceptions of stuttering across two presentation modes: a quantitative and qualitative approach

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Psychology
• Communication Sciences

Background:

• Listener perceptions of stuttering are crucial for understanding social attitudes.
• Previous research has explored factors influencing these perceptions, but the impact of presentation modality requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare listener judgments of stuttering across different frequencies and presentation modes (audiovisual vs. audio-only).
• To analyze both quantitative (Likert scale) and qualitative (open-ended questions) listener responses.

Main Methods:

• 64 participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions varying in stuttering severity.
• Speech samples were presented in either audiovisual or audio-only modes.
• Participants completed Likert scales and open-ended questions to assess their perceptions.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in Likert scale ratings or the number of positive/negative comments between presentation modes.
• Increased stuttering frequency was partially associated with more negative listener comments.
• Qualitative comments did not significantly differ across theme clusters between the two presentation modes.

Conclusions:

• Stuttering severity appears to be a more significant factor in shaping listener perceptions than the presentation mode.
• Audiovisual versus audio-only presentation does not substantially alter listener reactions to stuttering.
• Qualitative data provides nuanced insights into listener responses to stuttering severity.