Computer-based workplace communication training in persons with traumatic brain injury: The work-related...

This proof-of-concept study presents a computer-based social communication training for spoken workplace interactions called Work-Related Communication (WoRC) training. This program implements didactic training, role-play, and immediate feedback using a simulation approach to improve spoken language performance. The unique target of this training is a category of linguistic markers called politeness markers which are essential for cooperative workplace exchanges.

We recruited eight adults with chronic traumatic brain injury. All participants demonstrated reduced politeness marker use in language sampling before treatment. This study had a quasi-experimental treatment design. We measured the rate of politeness marker use (politeness markers per minute) using the Voicemail Elicitation Task and novel role-play tasks, and the La Trobe Communication Questionnaire as outcome (dependent) variables.

After training, participants demonstrated an increase in trained and untrained politeness marker use that was significant for the novel role-play tasks. The La Trobe Communication Questionnaire found that familiar conversation partners reported a significant increase in social communication skills.

The WoRC program has implications for introducing a sociolinguistic foundation for social communication training in general and specifically for vocational placement.