Development, and validation of non-speech dichotic listening test

Background:Classic dichotic listening tests using speech stimuli result in right ear advantage,due to the dominant crossed pathway for speech and language.It is presumed that similar crossed dominance could exist for non-speech stimuli too.Hence,this is an attempt to develop and validate the dichotic nonspeech test using environmental stimuli and explore the effect of focused attention on this test.Materials and method:Three lists of dichotic stimuli were created using these sounds with fifteen tokens in each list.Four professionals and non-professionals validated these materials.Normative estimation was obtained by administering the newly developed test on 70 adults and 70 children using a free-recall and forced-recall condition.Result:The results showed a significant difference between the left ear and right scores where the left ear score was better than the right,depicting left ear advantage(LEA)for free recall condition in both groups.In the forced recall condition,LEA was not seen;rather the mean score was significantly higher in the attended ear,irrespective of the stimuli presented to the right or left ear.The test-retest reliability in free recall was good in both the ears and moderate for forced right ear conditions.Conclusion:The novel test consistently showed LEA with good reliability and can be used to assess the hemispheric asymmetry in normal subjects and also in test batteries for the clinical population.

Effects of visuals on simulated CET-3 listening test

In real-time situation, listeners rely on linguistic knowledge as well as contextual information to process acoustic signals, while presently in China, most listening comprehension tests do not include visuals （visuals bearing content or contextual information） to facilitate the listening. The present paper chooses several simulated CET-3 listening comprehension as the experimental materials and tries to investigate the effects of different types of visuals, such as pictures, diagrams, and photos of the speakers＇ part, with items on the CET-3 listening tests.

Discuss the Concepts of Authenticity and Validity in Relation to the IELTS Listening Test

These days there is an increasing amount of research about the International English Language Testing System(IELTS)and the individual sections, while the presentation of a sort of testing concepts is also valuable to explore. After completing necessary practice, candidates seem capable of getting high scores in the listening section. It is interesting to examine the relationship between an individual part of test and the relevant testing concepts. The discussion in this essay is based on the explanation of the nature of the IELTS listening test and the analysis of separate components in the test. It is found that to some extent the IELTS listening test could present a certain testing principles, while different researchers or test takers are possibly to have various understanding of the concepts and the further research is required. The most apparent finding, which was pointed out in the final part of this essay is that the IELTS listening test focus on assessing a specific field of knowledge.

Investigating Iranian Test-takers＇ Performance Over Taking Different Modalities of Listening Comprehension Test

Visual and pictorial materials are extensively used in teaching listening comprehension textbooks. Although the use of still image is currently implemented in some distinguished testing systems, video test is not a popular modality due to the fact that this kind of test may result in test-takers＇ confusion during the test. In the present study, a sample of 80 Iranian EFL （English as a Foreign Language） students was selected to compare their performance on three different modalities of listening test： audio-only test, pictorial （listening with still image test）, and visual （video） listening test. The analysis of one-way repeated measure ANOVA （Analysis of Variance） was used to compare the students＇ scores. The results of Bonferroni Post Hoc Test confirm that there were significant differences in scores among audio-only, pictorial, and visual tests. The results of this study highlight the greater performance of students in pictorial listening test which is statistically significant.

An Analysis of the Listening Comprehension in CET-6——Illustrated by the CET-6 Test on June,2018

The College English Test Band Six(CET-6)is one of the most widely applied exam across China.As a national teaching test,CET-6 is sponsored by the Department of higher education of the Ministry of education of The People’s Republic of China and held twice a year.In this study,77 sophomores of different majors were tested using the listening test in June 2018.It is ensured that the test method is exactly same as that of CET-6.The purpose of this paper is to analyze the content and specification of CET-6 listening comprehension test,and to evaluate this part in detail according to the real data,including score report and item analysis,trying to provide some enlightenment for the revision of the examination.

Statistical Inference of User Experience of Multichannel Audio on Mobile Phones

Mobile phones and other handheld electronic devices are now ubiquitous and play an important role in our everyday lives.Over the last decade,we have seen a sharp rise in the sophistication of both hardware and software for these devices,thus significantly increasing their utility and use.Electronic devices are now commonly used for the streaming of audio and video and for the regular playback of music.Multichannel audio has now become a popular format and with recent updates in software,the latest audio codecs that support this format can effectively be played back on most electronic devices.As a result,more audio content that is now compatible with these devices is being produced.It is important to perform subjective quality tests for multichannel audio verses traditional stereo and mono on devices like mobile phones while using headphones.This paper presents the results and analysis of such listening tests that evaluate basic audio quality and quality of experience.The results show that while multichannel audio scores higher than stereo and mono for both of these attributes,the difference in score was less for the ratings of quality of experience.The results were processed using an Analysis of Variance(ANOVA)to show the statistical significance.Calculation of the effect size showed that the audio content had little bearing on the results.

A STUDY ON THE CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF LONG DIALOGUE MULTIPLE-CHOICE LISTENING COMPREHENSION TESTS: RETROSPECTION APPROACH

This paper aims to explore the construct validity of long dialogue multiple-choice (MC) listening comprehension tests through examining the retrospective verbal reports of eight Chinese EFL test-takers at tertiary level. It is found that the grammatical knowledge, discourse knowledge, pragmatic knowledge and sociolinguistic knowledge of language competence and all the cognitive and metacognitive strategies proposed in the framework of listening constructs are measured in the tests, which supports the constr...

Perception of Nonlinear Distortion in Music Signals Reproduced by Microspeakers

A lot of work has focused on compensating nonlinear distortions ofthe microspeaker under large excitation, yet it is unclear at which levelthe effect of nonlinear distortion is imperceptible or not annoying. Inthis study virtual listening tests were performed to evaluate thedeterioration of sound quality in music signals with different levels ofnonlinear distortion by a microspeaker. Binaural recordings of themusic played by the microspeaker were made at different voltagelevels, adjusted to the same RMS power, and afterwards reproducedby a low distortion reference headphone. The “double-blind triple-stimuluswith hidden reference” method was used in the listening tests. Listenerswere required to not only discern the distortion, but also rank theseverity of the distortion. The effects of several factors includingsubject, program material and distortion level on the perceiveddistortion are discussed.

The Impact of Selected Parameters of a Modified Sampling Synthesis on the Result of Its Auditory Assessment

One of the main shortcomings of standard sampling synthesis is the very limited number of sound parameters that are user-controllable. In the most general case, the user can choose a particular pitch, duration, and amplitude. If the sampler allows control over articulation, it simply switches from one sound sample to another. This makes fine-tuning of musical performances demanding and time-consuming if not an impossibility altogether. A synthesis system has been developed at the Academy of Music in Krakow, Poland. It uses a large collection of samples that contain short sequences of notes. The system implements a number of techniques to seamlessly connect recorded sequences, to control note durations as well as the tempo and the dynamics envelopes. Samples are automatically chosen, modified, and connected to keep the recorded, natural note transitions intact. The system uses performance rules to introduce variations into the regular playback akin to live performances by musicians. A user can either control the parameters manually or choose a desired expression and leave the particular decisions to the system. However, it is necessary to examine which parameters have the greatest impact on the listeners’ impression and determine useful values. 15 expert listeners compared and evaluated variants of musical performances produced by the synthesis system with different sets of parameters. The paper discusses a selection of the examined parameters, the test methods employed and the results obtained.