Effect of the Closed-Response Format on Modified Rhyme-Test Scores

Abstract

The Modified Rhyme Test (MRT) is generally more convenient to use than the Harvard PB-Word Test, but less capable of discriminating among highly intelligible communication systems. An experiment was performed to determine whether the higher scores typically obtained with the MRT can be attributed to the closed-response format of this test. The total MRT vocabulary, recorded by an adult male speaker, was repeatedly administered to three groups of listeners at two signal-to-noise ratios: the first group used an open-response (write-down) format, the second group used the regular closed-response (multiple-choice) format, and the third group first heard the same speaker read other speech material and then used the closed-response format. The results indicate that the scores finally obtained with the open-response format are not appreciably different from the scores initially obtained with the closed-response format, and that MRT scores do not rise as listening experience is acquired. [Work supported by Decision Sciences Laboratory, Electronic Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command, Bedford, Massachusetts.]