“Influence of Common Colds on Speaker Characteristics”
Dear participant,
Thank you very much for your interest in our study “Influence of Common Colds on Speaker Characteristics”.
What is this study about?
This study investigates the influence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) on the properties of speech signals and their effects on modern voiceprint recognition systems. In particular, it analyses how short-term changes to the vocal apparatus affect automatic speaker recognition and verification.
Below, you will find information about the aims, benefits, duration, and possible risks of taking part in our study. Please take your time to read this text carefully. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our study representative.
The contact email address can always be found at the bottom of the page.
Who can take part?
To participate, you must be older than 18 years and have sufficient command of English to understand the information texts and instructions in the questionnaire and to be able to read English texts aloud. In addition, you should have a normal level of speech function and no noticeable speech or articulation disorders, as these could affect the analysis of the voiceprints.
If any of the following apply to you, unfortunately, you cannot take part in the study: strong regional dialect, heavy smoking that affects your vocal performance, or other pathologies (including hearing impairments) that influence speech, articulation, or voice function.
Furthermore, we reserve the right to exclude your recordings from the final sample and analysis after data collection if necessary.
Duration of the survey
The survey is divided into two parts: one recording when you have a cold and one when you have recovered. In addition, there are some general questions, as well as questions about your recording equipment and the severity of your cold. Each part takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Your email address will also be collected at the beginning (via opt-in) to remind you to complete the second part of the study. The email address will be deleted after the survey is completed.
Compensation
Participants will receive a compensation of €10 for taking part in the study.
Payment will be made after participation in both rounds.
A separate email with all details will be sent once the second round has been completed.
Detailed study information and data protection
You can find detailed study information at the following link.
Consent declaration
By starting the survey, I voluntarily consent to the collection and processing of my personal data. Furthermore, I confirm that I have been sufficiently informed about the survey and have been briefed on the nature and content of the data collection. I have read and understood the information sheet. I have also been informed about the aims of the study and that I can contact the study representative (PD Dr Ingo Siegert) if I have any questions. I have been informed that I am free to withdraw from participation at any time during the survey without giving any reason. I also understand that I have the right to withdraw my consent at any time during data entry for this study without providing a reason and without any personal disadvantage by ending the survey early. I have been informed of the consequences of such withdrawal of consent under data protection law. I understand that the lawfulness of any processing carried out on the basis of my consent before its withdrawal remains unaffected.
