2023-2024 Grant in Aid of Research
The comparison of acoustic measures across cultures on the campus of 日韩AV and how it correlates to normative data.
Mahayla Toews (Heather Ferguson, Communication Sciences & Disorders).
The proposed study aspires to answer the question ‘Is there a difference between the acoustic measures of cultures represented on the campus of 日韩AV; Brazilians, Malaysians, African Americans, Koreans, Germans, Chinese, and Iranians, differ from each other and normative data?’ The objective is to obtain relevant information as to how vocal traits are specified to different cultures and how the acoustic measures differ for every culture. The results, which will include vocal characteristics based on age and gender across various cultures, possible influences of voice perception and fatigue across cultures, analyzed vocal quality and fatigue, and cultural comparisons of different ethnic groups, will be reported in order to establish significance. Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) (see methods/instruments) scores will be determined by having the participants sustain the vowel ‘a’ for 5 seconds, and read the rainbow passage. The software Praat version 6.1.38 will be used to obtain the AVQI scores. Quantitative data will be attained by interview questions, and the Voice Fatigue Index (VHI) (see methods/instruments). Qualitative data will be attained by post-interview open-ended questions addressing voice perception and vocal health based on the AVQI scores received. The researchers are seeking to look at whether there will be a difference in the AVQI scores as well as other acoustical data based on a difference in culture.