Construct Validity of Direct Magnitude Estimation and Interval Scaling of Speech Intelligibility

Abstract

The appropriateness of direct magnitude estimation and interval scaling procedures for assessing the speech intelligibility of hearing-impaired adults was investigated by determining whether the continuum of the talkers' intelligibility was prothetic or metathetic. The intelligibility of 20 hearing-impaired talkers was scaled by 20 listeners using direct magnitude estimation and by 20 listeners using interval scaling. The two sets of scaling data were related in the curvilinear fashion that is typical of prothetic continua, indicating better construct validity for direct magnitude estimation than for interval scaling of speech intelligibility.

The effect of segmental and suprasegmental corrections on the intelligibility of deaf speech

“…Moreover, day-to-day evaluation of the speech of deaf children by their teachers is mainly based on quality judgments. Different scaling methods for quality judgments exist (see, for instance, Schiavetti et al, 1981), but it is encouraging to find close correspondence between pairwise comparison data and direct intelligibility measures. In general, we found preference judgments to be a more sensitive measure than intelligibility scores.…”

Darley's contributions to the understanding, differential diagnosis, and scientific study of the dysarthrias

“…Although directmagnitude estimation is the preferred method for this situation, the literature is based largely on data derived from the use of equal-appearing interval scaling. The issue of scaling method has been examined in a series of papers by Schiavetti and colleagues (Metz, Schiavetti, & Sacco, 1990;Samar & Metz, 1988;Schiavetti, 1984Schiavetti, , 1992Schiavetti, Metz, & Sitler, 1981).…”

The Effect of Speaking Task on Perceptual Judgment of the Severity of Dysphonic Voice

“…In this direct magnitude estimation (DME) procedure, 48 raters made a vertical slash mark in a horizontal 100-mm line-this line represented a range from mildly deviant (MI) approaching *The interested reader should refer to Dworkin and Meleca 45 for additional specific case information (eg, history, examination results, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as voice evaluation results, voice treatment plan, and intervention outcome). Listeners were blind to the ratings of each other and to the background information of the speaker.…”