title: Perceptual Anchors and the Dispersion of Nasality Ratings.
abstract: This investigation studied the effects of perceptual anchors on the dispersion and reliability of listener ratings of nasality.
  
  
  
  Listeners (N = 129) were assigned to one of six listening groups. Each group rated nasality independently for 100 speech samples on a seven-point scale that ranged from 1 = normal nasality to 7 = severe hypernasality. The anchors used were examples of a 1, 3, 4, 5, and/or 7 on the rating scale. These anchors were played selectively to group 2 (4), group 3 (1 and 7), group 4 (3 and 5), group 5 (1, 4, 7), and group 6 (7). Group 1 had no anchor.
  
  
  
  Of the speakers, 95 were children followed by a craniofacial team and five were children without histories of speech disorders.
  
  
  
  The outcome measures were 12,900 ratings of nasality on a seven-point scale.
  
  
  
  Q values showed that group 5, which was the only group to receive three anchors, had the lowest, or best, Q value (0.78), and group 1 (no anchor) had the highest, or worst, Q value (0.99). Across groups, the most reliable ratings were those at scale values 1 (Q = 0.46) and 7 (Q = 0.56). The least reliable ratings were at scale values 3 (Q = 1.01), 4 (Q = 1.03), and 5 (Q = 1.06).
  
  
  
  Nasality rating reliability/dispersion was influenced by the presence and location of anchor stimuli. Consistent with absolute judgment theory, nasality ratings showed a strong end effect.
authors.forename: Kristine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Galek
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014833:Voice Quality
keywords: anchors; nasality ratings; reliability