University of Northern Iowa UNI ScholarWorks Dissertations and Theses @ UNI Student Work 2006 Speech recognition: The interpretation of training and using speech recognition software from the perspectives of postsecondary students with learning challenges Delann Soenksen University of Northern Iowa Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy Copyright ©2006 Delann Soenksen Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd Part of the Disability and Equity in Education Commons, and the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation Soenksen, Delann, "Speech recognition: The interpretation of training and using speech recognition software from the perspectives of postsecondary students with learning challenges" (2006). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 765. https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/765 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Work at UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses @ UNI by an authorized administrator of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPEECH RECOGNITION: THE INTERPRETATION OF TRAINING AND USING SPEECH RECOGNITION SOFTWARE FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS WITH LEARNING CHALLENGES A Dissertation Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Approved: Dr. Sandra Alper, Chair Dr. Deborah Gallagher,, Committee Member IDr. John Henning, Committed Member A '' 71/dasrr*.__________ Dr. Lauren Nelson, Committee Member Dr. Michael Waggoner, Committee Member Delann Soenksen University of Northern Iowa May 2006 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 3208608 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ® UMI UMI Microform 3208608 Copyright 2006 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. SPEECH RECOGNITION: THE INTERPRETATION OF TRAINING AND USING SPEECH RECOGNITION SOFTWARE FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS WITH LEARNING CHALLENGES An Abstract of a Dissertation Submitted In Partial fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Approved: ndra Alper, Committee chaDr. Sandrandra Alper,Alper, Committee chaDr. Di Dean of the Graduate College Delann Soenksen University of Northern Iowa May 2006 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT This study examined the utilization of speech recognition programs by five college students with learning difficulties. A qualitative approach was implemented over the course of two semesters, Fall 2003 and Spring 2004, to: (a) ascertain students’ perspectives on speech recognition, and (b) understand how students used speech recognition programs as a tool to meet the academic demands of postsecondary education. Data collection for this study included interviews, participant observations, field notes, videotape, and course assignments. This study provided qualitative data regarding an assistive technology tool that has traditionally been studied within a quantitative paradigm. Environment, individual characteristics, and life demands were found to impact student use of their speech recognition program. Implications for users, educational professionals, and researchers are presented in the final chapter of this paper. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank several individuals for their assistance in making this project a reality. First, to the participants in this study who shared their insights. Without their willingness and cooperation, this project would never have been completed. It is to them that I owe a great amount of gratitude. Second, I would like to thank my committee members for their assistance and guidance. I specifically, would like to thank Dr. Alper for the numerous opportunities I have been provided throughout my graduate program. The experiences I have received have contributed to my knowledge and growth as a professional. I thank the remaining committee members, Dr. Gallagher, Dr. Henning, Dr. Nelson, and Dr. Waggoner for their encouragement, support, expertise, and willingness to serve as committee members. I would also like to extend a thank you to many of my friends for their support and encouraging words throughout my graduate program and research. I also want to express my gratitude to those who read and assisted with the editing of my paper. In addition, I owe a lot of gratitude to my husband, Joel. The moral support, patience, and encouraging words whether it was from here or afar, have made my goals a reality. The completion of this project demonstrates that persistence, love, and faith can endure all obstacles and challenges. This research was, in part, funded by Congressional Appropriation Award #P116Z90009 administered by the Fund for Improvement in Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), #R215K000043 administered by the Fund for Improvement in Education (FIE), Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. and H324E012001 administered by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). No official endorsement of funding agencies is implied. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF FIGURES...............................................................................................................xi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................1 Scenario 1 .......................................................................................................................... 1 Scenario 2 .......................................................................................................................... 1 Scenario 3 ..........................................................................................................................2 My Experience................................................................................................................. 4 Dragon NaturallySpeaking ................................................................................... 4 iListen..........................................................................................................................7 ViaVoice .................................................................................................................. 9 Researcher’s Perspective ............................................................................................ 13 Initial Assumption ....................................................................................................... 16 Problem Statement......................................................................................................... 16 Purpose of the Study ...................................................................................................... 18 Research Questions ..................................................................................................... 19 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................. 19 Definition of Terms ....................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................... 25 Speech Recognition Software ................................................................................... 25 Speech Recognition Research ................................................................................... 27 Speech Impairments ................................................................................................27 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PAGE Controlling the Environment ................................................................................. 30 English as Second Language ................................................................................. 31 Academic Outcomes ............................................................................................ 32 Work Related Outcomes ..................................................................................... 40 Summary of Speech Recognition Research Literature .............................................41 Participants...............................................................................................................41 Independent Variables...........................................................................................