Expertise Effects in Voice Recognition
Sarah V. Stevenage, Tom Bonser · ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) · 2009
Research Objectives: Motivated by the other-race effect, the potential of an expertise effect in voice recognition is examined through manipulation of regional accent in a lineup study. Design: Identification of southern- and northern-accented voices by southern and northern participants was explored. Hits, misses and false alarms were recorded together with self-rated confidence. Method: 49 Southerners and 85 Northerners took part in two lineups (southern voice, northern voice) each involving the presentation of a 60s target speaker clip, followed after a 5 minute delay by a 6 person voice lineup. Results: Northerners were good at identifying both the northern and southern voice. However, southerners showed a marked other-accent effect, with fewer hits and more false alarms to the northern voice than the southern voice. Conclusions: A parallel to the other-race effect emerged here for voice recognition. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to eyewitness reliability.