Effect of Backchannel Utterances on Facilitating Idea-Generation in Japanese Think-Aloud Tasks

Abstract

The relation between backchannel utterance and idea-generation has hardly been studied. Based on preliminary investigations, we formulated a hypothesis that a listener's backchannel utterances facilitate a speaker's idea-generation. This study experimentally manipulated the frequency of backchannel utterances by listeners during speakers' idea-generation for think-aloud tasks. 16 Japanese female undergraduates participated. Analysis indicated that frequent backchannel utterances increased not only the number of ideas generated but also the speaking time for the tasks.

Untitled

“…Through the fact that the interaction was found only in idea-generation, it was suggested that backchannel utterances had two influencing pathways; one was facilitating positive social cognition and motivation which led to speaking more, and the other was activating idea-generation itself. support for idea-generation, thinking, backchannel utterance, copresence, communication (1) et al 2003et al Matarazzo et al 1964 Matarazzo et al Finke, Ward, & Smith 1992 2 (1)…”