Tag: Poster 118

The Effectiveness of Audiovisual Training on Non-Native English Speech Production and Perception

Presenter(s): Chia-ni Shen − Psychology, Communication Disorders & Sciences

Faculty Mentor(s): Melissa Baese-Berk

Poster 118

Research Area: Linguistics (Second Language Production And Perception)

Funding: UROP Mini Grant

In this project, we will examine the effectiveness of audiovisual training, pairing audio input with visual input, on non-native English speech production and perception. Speech perception relies on both acoustic information and visual information. Audiovisual training is a method that applies use of the two domains. Previous research utilizing this method has been employed in the field of speech pathology, showing positive outcomes in improving speech among dyslexic children. However, few studies to date have examined its use in second language learning. Furthermore, this research has focused primarily on perception and production of English /l/ and /r/ but not consonants made with the lips (i.e., labial sounds: /b,p,m,f,v/), which are known to be challenging for many second language learners though the differences between these consonants are typically visible on the lips. Therefore, the aim of this project is to explore audiovisual training across 3 non-native language groups: Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic. Participants will take part in a training study designed to examine the effects of audiovisual and audio-only training. Performance before and after the training will be assessed via perception and production tests. We hypothesize that 1) student production performance and perception performance will improve and 2) production and perception improvement will rely heavily on a participant’s language background and known difficulties with labial sounds. Results from this research will enrich understanding of language perception and production and provide information on the use of audiovisual training in second language learning.

HIV risk behaviors and their relationship with social support across racial/ethnic identities

Presenter(s): Renata Moreno Perez

Faculty Mentor(s): Jessica M. Cronce

Poster 118

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

Social support is associated with health, in particular reduced engagement in HIV-related risk behaviors (HRRB), such as not getting tested (Qiao, Li, & Stanton, 2014). However, less research has examined if there are group differences in social support based on past/current engagement in HRRB. This project addresses this question, hypothesizing that people engaged in HRRB would have lower social support, and also explores whether the level of social support among people that are engaged in HRRB differs based on their racial/ethnic identity. I used a secondary data set from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), collected in 2017 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An independent samples t-test showed those endorsing any HRRB in the past 12 months reported less social support than those endorsing no HRRB, t(19305) = 7.81, p < .001. When the sample was restricted to only those endorsing any HRRB, an ANOVA showed an overall difference in social support based on race/ethnicity, F(5, 703) = 5.78, p < .001. Post hoc tests showed that Black, Non-Hispanic and Hispanic individuals had less emotional support compared to white individuals. This research is important because individuals lacking in social support may be less likely to get tested for HIV due to fears of stigma and further loss of social connections. Knowing that individuals engaged in HRRB have lower social support, and that this support is particularly low for two populations that suffer discrimination can help inform and target social support interventions aimed at reducing HIV incidence.