Exploring users’ perceptions of ASR for writing narrative texts

Abstract

This study examines how users perceive Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) as a tool for writing narrative texts, and compares the perceptions of two groups of users: native and non-native English writers. As such, this study aimes to answer the following questions: (1) How do English writers perceive the use of ASR as a writing tool?; and (2) How do native and non-native English writers’ perceptions compare in terms of using ASR as a writing tool? To answer these questions, we employed the Technology Acceptance Model 2 (TAM2) to investigate 60 participants’ perceptions of utilizing ASR for producing narrative texts. Our findings from analyzing seven components of TAM2 show that writers express a positive attitude towards utilizing ASR as a tool for composing texts. Our findings also indicate no noticeable differences between how native and non-native English writers perceive the usefulness of ASR for creating texts. This is contrary to our hypothesis that native speakers, owing to their more advanced pronunciation skills in English, might have a more favorable attitude towards using ASR.