Shadowing

From MerrimackWiki

Definition

Shadowing is the procedure of repeating a message out loud. During this process, the subject of the experiment repeats out loud the words that they have just heard. Normally, there are two messages being presented and the subject is asked to focus and repeat just one.

Significance

This term is largely connected to dichotic listening,a procedure developed by Colin Cherry, in which people are asked to pay attention to one of two messages presented simultaneously. This experiment is aimed at illustrating that a subject is able to focus on one message; however, not much information is gained from the other. The main goal of shawdowing mirrors that of dichotic listening in that it is "used to ensure that the participants are focusing their attention on the attended message" (Goldstein, 102). We have learned through experimentation with this that when the voices presenting the two stimuli are of a different tone, it is muc earier to focus attention on one of them. This is due to the mere fact that is it easier to differenciate between the two voices, and easier to pay attention to one voice- such as having a male with a deep voice and a female with a not-so-deep voice read the stimuli.

Information obtained with the help of the text: Goldstein pg. 102.