33rd Annual Student Research Conference
Perception of Physical Characteristics Based on Voice
Rachel A. Fortney*, Alyssa M. Keune, and Maddi R. Thomason
Dr. Ilene Elmlinger, Faculty Mentor
This study sought to examine how humans make connections between vocal qualities and physical characteristics and how these connections influence communication. In the study, voice samples were taken from individuals of different heights and weights. Participants were then asked to listen to the voice samples and determine what they perceive was the person’s physical characteristics (height and weight). Each participant’s perceptions were then compared to the actual physical characteristics of the speaker and to the responses of the other participants in the study. The information gathered about the correlation between the voice and perceived physical characteristics could be beneficial in fields that rely on vocal interactions without the presence of visual stimuli (help and information telephone lines, telemarketers, etc.) by giving data into how someone may perceive someone’s physical characteristics based on their voice and any judgments or biases may come from that perception.
Keywords: Vocal Characteristics, Perception, Physical Characteristics, Height, Weight, Communication Disorders
Topic(s):Communication Disorders
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA