Nonverbal Vocal Adaptation and Audience Perceptions of Dominance and Prestige

Fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis of speech is a useful tool for measuring the social organization of micro interactions. Past research suggests that “adaptation” in the lower nonverbal vocal frequencies may be associated with bystander perceptions of dominance and prestige, but these factors have not been compared in a single study. Furthermore, it is unclear whether nonverbal vocal adaptation has an independent effect on bystander perceptions of dominance or prestige in naturalistic settings. To explore these questions, we aired manipulated versions of interviews from Piers Morgan Live to panels of undergraduates who then rated the dominance and prestige of the host and his guest. We find that nonverbal vocal adaptation is uniquely associated with dominance perceptions. We also find that nonverbal vocal adaptation does not have an effect on dominance perceptions that is independent of other cues. A step-by-step guide to help others use FFT voice analysis is provided.

Examining Medical Interview Asymmetry Using the Expectation States Approach

In this study we examine medical interview asymmetry using the expectation states approach. Physicians lead clinical interviews because of a feature inherent in those interviews, namely the status difference between doctor and patient. This power differential varies: it is greatest when the biomedical aspects of the interview are emphasized. These observations are consistent with status characteristics theory (SCT), which is based on the expectation states approach to understanding the emergence of power-prestige orders in groups facing shared tasks. From an SCT perspective, when the required scope conditions are met the status characteristics of doctor and patient trigger expectation states that result in inequalities relevant to the biomedical tasks of the interview. We examine interactions between medical students and standardized patients from the perspective of SCT. We observe the emergence of vocal spectrum inequalities when the interview task is biomedical. Other nonverbal behavioral outcomes emerge as well, which are consistent with the asymmetry literature.

Effects of dichotically enhanced electronic communication on crash risk and performance during simulated driving

In a driving simulator experiment, male and female college students received turn-by-turn driving directions and cognitive tasks while interacting with an experimenter via an audio communication system. In an Enhanced condition (n = 29), lower speech frequencies (containing the speech fundamental frequency) were routed to participants' left ears (with right cerebral-hemisphere processing) and verbal frequencies above the speech fundamental frequency were routed to right ears (with left hemisphere processing). A control group (n = 31) heard unfiltered communications in both ears. Compared to those in the Control condition, participants in the Enhanced condition were significantly less likely to crash and had nonsignificantly lower rates of driving errors (speed infractions, improper lane position, and following distance errors). The results suggest a means of alleviating cognitive load pressure and mitigating crash risk when complex equipment is operated concurrently with two-way electronic communications (cell phone communication while driving, air-to-air and air-to-ground communications, etc.).

Further analysis of a doctor-patient nonverbal communication instrument

This study examines the reliability and validity of the relational communication scale for observational measurement (RCS-O) using a random sample of 80 videotaped interactions of medical students interviewing standardized patients (SPs). The RCS-O is a 34-item instrument designed to measure the nonverbal communication of physicians interacting with patients. The instrument was applied and examined in two different interview scenarios. In the first scenario (year 1), the medical student's interview objective is to demonstrate patient-centered interviewing skills as the SP presents with a psychosocial concern. In the second scenario (year 3), the student's interview objective is to demonstrate both doctor-centered and patient-centered skills as the SP presents with a case common in primary care. In the year 1 scenario, 19 of the 34 RCS-O items met acceptable levels of inter-rater agreement and reliability. In the year 3 scenario, 26 items met acceptable levels of inter-rater agreement and reliability. Factor analysis indicated that in both scenarios each of the four primary relational communication dimensions was salient: intimacy, composure, formality, and dominance. Measures of correlation and differences involving the RCS-O dimensions and structural features of the interviews (e.g., number of questions asked by the medical student) are examined.

Assessment of a measure of relational communication for doctor-patient interactions

This research analyzes the psychometric properties of a 34-item doctor-patient relational communication scale adapted from its survey research form [Commun Monogr 1987;54:307] for use as an observational instrument to rate doctor-patient interaction. Relational communication determines the affective "tone" of interpersonal communication, and is handled mostly through nonverbal channels. Relational communication provides the framework in which the content of a doctor-patient exchange, such as symptom reports by the patient, is interpreted and acted upon. The relational communication scale was adapted for use by three trained observers each of whom rated 20 videotaped interactions between medical students and standardized patients. Results indicate fair to excellent internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, inter-rater agreement, and construct validity for four of the six relational communication subscales. The scale is practical to administer and would lend itself for use in formative evaluation of medical student and physician communication skills.

Measuring emotional intelligence of medical school applicants

PURPOSE

To discuss the development, pilot testing, and analysis of a 34-item semantic differential instrument for measuring medical school applicants' emotional intelligence (the EI instrument).

METHOD

The authors analyzed data from the admission interviews of 147 1997 applicants to a six-year BS/MD program that is composed of three consortium universities. They compared the applicants' scores on traditional admission criteria (e.g., GPA and traditional interview assessments) with their scores on the EI instrument (which comprised five dimensions of emotional intelligence), breaking the data out by consortium university (each of which has its own educational ethos) and gender. They assessed the EI instrument's reliability and validity for assessing noncognitive personal and interpersonal qualities of medical school applicants.

RESULTS

The five dimensions of emotional intelligence (maturity, compassion, morality, sociability, and calm disposition) indicated fair to excellent internal consistency: reliability coefficients were .66 to .95. Emotional intelligence as measured by the instrument was related to both being female and matriculating at the consortium university that has an educational ethos that values the social sciences and humanities.

CONCLUSION

Based on this pilot study, the 34-item EI instrument demonstrates the ability to measure attributes that indicate desirable personal and interpersonal skills in medical school applicants.

A nonverbal signal in voices of interview partners effectively predicts communication accommodation and social status perceptions

Derivations from nonverbal communications accommodation theory are tested, and this knowledge is extended both theoretically and methodologically. Fast fourier transform and statistical analysis of a low-frequency nonverbal signal-in voices from 25 dyadic interviews between a talk show host and his guests revealed voice convergence between partners. Correlation coefficients from comparisons of partners' voice spectra and factor analysis of the correlation matrix showed that lower status partners accommodated their voices to higher status partners via the nonverbal signal. Student ratings of the social status of the same talk show host and guests were correlated with factor loadings, thereby providing convergent validity of the nonverbal signal as a predictor of social status perceptions and accommodation.

A nonverbal signal in voices of interview partners effectively predicts communication accommodation and social status perceptions

Derivations from nonverbal communications accommodation theory are tested, and this knowledge is extended both theoretically and methodologically. Fast fourier transform and statistical analysis of a low-frequency nonverbal signal-in voices from 25 dyadic interviews between a talk show host and his guests revealed voice convergence between partners. Correlation coefficients from comparisons of partners' voice spectra and factor analysis of the correlation matrix showed that lower status partners accommodated their voices to higher status partners via the nonverbal signal. Student ratings of the social status of the same talk show host and guests were correlated with factor loadings, thereby providing convergent validity of the nonverbal signal as a predictor of social status perceptions and accommodation.