A Normative Study of Children's Listening Rate Preferences

Abstract

A paired comparison paradigm was employed to determine the listening rate preferences of children. Recordings of a reading of a standard prose passage were time-altered by means of a speech compressor to yield nine rates: 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, and 300 wpm. A master tape was constructed from the time-altered versions of the reading and presented to 49 children for their listening rate preference judgments. Results indicate that the children's most preferred listening rate was 175 wpm and their least preferred rate was 100 wpm. Comparisons of the present findings with the listening rate preferences of adults, as well as suggestions for future inquiry, are discussed.