Lukassen, Anne (2025) Say It Like You Mean It: Can Prosody Predict Objective Accuracy and Subjective Confidence in Memory Tasks? Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
In memory research, reaction time and accuracy are commonly used as indicators of memory strength. Previous studies have shown that prosodic speech features (PSFs) can add to existing models by revealing how speech prosody’s role conveys cognitive and metacognitive states. Therefore, we examined whether prosodic speech features (average pitch, pitch change, speaking speed, and average intensity) can predict subjective confidence and objective accuracy in memory retrieval in simple S-V sentences. Furthermore, we compared these relationships between L1 and L2 in a within-subject design. Forty-eight Dutch native speakers were asked to complete a learning task in which they studied and verbally recalled simple sentences in Dutch and Italian. Subsequently, the participants rated their confidence. Results showed that faster and louder speech was most strongly associated with confident and correct responses. These responses were also more likely to have a lower pitch. In the Dutch condition, responses that were correct and confident had a rise-fall pitch trajectory, whereas unconfident or inaccurate responses showed a rising pitch at the end of an utterance. Overall, most relationships were stronger and more consistent in the Dutch condition, with speaking speed as an exception. Our findings suggest that prosodic information can improve predictions of memory strength beyond response time and accuracy, offering potential benefits for adaptive and inclusive learning. However, stronger and more consistent effects were observed in the native language, implying that adaptive learning systems may require language-specific adjustments to accurately recognize prosodic cues in second-language learning contexts.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Sarampalis, A. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jul 2025 09:07 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Jul 2025 09:07 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5722 |
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