Proposal to Conduct Experimental Research on the Effects of Language Style and Voice Type of a Pedagogical Agent on Fifth Grade Learning and Motivation

Abstract

The proposed research will further explore the effects of language style and speech type on student learning and motivation in agent-based multimedia settings. Inspired by several recent studies on post-secondary student learning in agent-based multimedia settings, this research will compare the effects of language style (conversational or formal) and speech type (human or machine-synthesized) on elementary students’ learning retention, transfer and motivation. It is expected that instruction with human speech in a conversational language style will promote better learning retention, transfer, and motivation than will instruction with machine-synthesized speech in a formal language style.