The effect of differential reward on speech patterns

Data from this experiment indicate that verbal approval of a prior speaker led to disruptive effects on certain speech patterns of a second speaker, both in a condition where the second speaker received no verbal approval and in a condition where the second speaker received verbal approval.

Subjects in these two conditions presented a significantly greater number of nonfluencies than did subjects in a condition where the prior speaker had not received verbal approval. Also, the estimates of speaking time indicate that greater anxiety may have existed in these two conditions.

Unlike some previous research, this experiment yielded no significant differences in speaking rate among the three conditions.