Predicting speech grades from selected spoken language variables

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which selected spoken language characteristics predict grades for an introductory public‐speaking course. A Flesch reading‐ease score, Flesch human‐interest score, and type‐token ratio were computed for the first five hundred words of a public‐speech sample for forty‐five subjects. A multiple regression analysis was computed in which the scores on the spoken‐language characteristics (predictor variables) were regressed on the final grades in the speech course (criterion variable). Results indicated that the final grades in an introductory speech course were significantly related to the number of syllables used by students in public‐speech behavior.