Making a Grand Gesture?The Influence of Sign Language Interpreters on the Persuasion of a Message for Good Hearing People
Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Abstract: For the first time a live sign language interpreter is visible on Dutch national television during \nthe press conferences about the coronavirus. This is a good addition for hearing-impaired \nindividuals but their influence on good hearing people is unknown. Research emphasizes the \nimportance of nonverbal behavior, in particular gestures, in increasing persuasion. For good \nhearing people the sign interpreter could function as a producer of gestures and increase \npersuasion. The current study aims to fill the gap in literature by answering the question \n‘Does the addition of a sign language interpreter increase persuasion on good hearing people, \nor is it distracting from the message and thus less persuasive? An online survey was \nconducted among good hearing Dutch adults. Participants watched a video of a press \nconference with either the speaker only, speaker and synchronized sign interpreter or speaker \nand unsynchronized sign interpreter. The persuasiveness of the video was measured by \nnonverbal presence, attention, understanding, memory, persuasion and intention to comply.\nWe found that the presence of a sign language interpreter does not have a main effect on\npersuasion among good hearing people, but that the synchronized interpreter strengthens the \neffect of previously formed opinions on persuasion. For future research it is recommended to \nstudy the effect of the sign interpreter using an unknown speaker and a neutral topic. It is \nconcluded that the addition of the sign language interpreter to the press conferences is a good \nmove. Results of the study are a valuable first step in optimizing important communication.
Author: B.A.M. van der Lee
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3194297641