Stress and Deception in Speech: Evaluating Layered Voice Analysis*

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate commonly used voice stress analyzers--in this case the layered voice analysis (LVA) system. The research protocol involved the use of a speech database containing materials recorded while highly controlled deception and stress levels were systematically varied. Subjects were 24 each males/females (age range 18-63 years) drawn from a diverse population. All held strong views about some issue; they were required to make intense contradictory statements while believing that they would be heard/seen by peers. The LVA system was then evaluated by means of a double blind study using two types of examiners: a pair of scientists trained and certified by the manufacturer in the proper use of the system and two highly experienced LVA instructors provided by this same firm. The results showed that the "true positive" (or hit) rates for all examiners averaged near chance (42-56%) for all conditions, types of materials (e.g., stress vs. unstressed, truth vs. deception), and examiners (scientists vs. manufacturers). Most importantly, the false positive rate was very high, ranging from 40% to 65%. Sensitivity statistics confirmed that the LVA system operated at about chance levels in the detection of truth, deception, and the presence of high and low vocal stress states.

Affective State and Voice: Cross-Cultural Assessment of Speaking Behavior and Voice Sound Characteristics - a Normative Multicenter Study of 577 + 36 Healthy Subjects

“…The recording scheme ‘counting-reading-counting' was found to be appropriate for self-assessments as well as for professional monitoring studies: it helped the test person to relax, to feel comfortable, and to get ‘the job done'. Even though ‘objective' assessments of a speaker's affective state through speech analysis play a more prominent role in other fields, such as forensic medicine [e.g., [24,25]], economics [e.g., [26]], or psychology [e.g., [22]], the availability of low-cost, easy-to-use speech analysis equipment will lead to a broader range of applications in psychiatry as well. Particularly interesting are the prospects of self-assessments among subjects at an elevated risk for developing affective disorders, for example, among subjects with insufficient coping behavior under chronic stress [27,28].…”

Coincidências e divergências entre transcrição e textualização de áudios

“…Thus, although many studies seek to understand the automatic speech recognition and transcription programs, the results found in this study show that speech can not be easily analyses because it involves relevant factors, such as linguistic knowledge, practice of their transcriber, time to perform the work and perception of non linguistic signs 35,36 .…”

Sexe, mensonge et personnalité : les paroles et le regard des machiavéliques, des psychopathes et des narcissiques que vous côtoyez

“…Certains auteurs ont critiqué l'aspect scientifique de ces techniques, comme pour le polygraphe (Maschke & Scalabrini, 2005). D'autre part, l'analyse vocale a été fortement critiquée sur sa plausibilité car lors d'une tâche de détection du mensonge elle ne donne pas de résultats supérieurs au hasard (Harnsberger, Hollien, Martin, & Hollien, 2009). Par ailleurs, un tel matériel n'a pas la même efficacité suivant la personne qui l'utilise (Horvath, McCloughan, Weatherman, & Slowik, 2013).…”