How seeing a speaker's face affects listening effort for native and nonnative English speakers
Listening effort and audiovisual speech by L1 ("native") and LX ("nonnative") English speakers
This study is looking at how seeing a speaker's face affects how hard it is for people who speak English as a second language to understand what they're saying, especially when there's background noise, and it involves some college students helping out along the way.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carleton College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Northfield, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10730305 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how visual cues from a speaker's face influence the effort required to understand speech, particularly for individuals who speak English as a second language. It aims to clarify whether seeing a speaker helps or hinders comprehension by measuring listening effort through various methods, including subjective assessments and recall tasks. The study will also explore how background noise impacts this effort and whether language proficiency alters the experience of listening. Undergraduate researchers will be involved throughout the process, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of these dynamics.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include both native English speakers and those for whom English is a second language, particularly in settings where visual cues are present.
Not a fit: Patients who are not involved in language processing or who do not engage in environments requiring speech comprehension may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance communication strategies for both native and nonnative English speakers, improving their ability to understand speech in various environments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that visual input can significantly affect speech comprehension, but this study aims to provide new insights by focusing on nonnative speakers and varying listening conditions.
Where this research is happening
Northfield, United States
- Carleton College — Northfield, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Strand, Julia F — Carleton College
- Study coordinator: Strand, Julia F
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.