SOAR Member Profiles

Ananya Arcot

• SOAR Position: Member
• Major: Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
• Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Meghan Wendelken

Current Focus: The Effects of Audiovisual, Visual, and Orthographic Input on Language Learning in College Students

Additional Interests: Language, Cognition, Hearing

Project Description

My research compares three viewing conditions—audiovisual (AV), visual and text (VT), and audiovisual and text (AVT)—to determine the highest incidental vocabulary acquisition (in the participants’ heritage language, English), the correlation between existing vocabulary skills and vocabulary learning, and the differing perspectives of the documentary. A series of tests will be given to participants before and after watching a 25-minute clip of a documentary. The results will hopefully show a viewing condition optimal for media consumers, especially those with a language, reading, or hearing impairment.

Why does this topic interest you?

I am very interested in the relationship between hearing, cognition, and language. I have been watching American television with subtitles for a long time, and I find myself focusing better with them on. I would love to focus my future research on how viewing conditions can be improved to benefit populations who are hard of hearing, and what the cognitive impacts of that are.

What are your professional aspirations?

I am hoping to get my masters in Speech-Language Pathology or a doctorate in Audiology, as well as continuing research in language, hearing, and/or cognition.

Do you have any advice for future researchers?

Just know that you are fully capable of getting into research. I never saw myself as a researcher, because I was never really pushed into that direction. But you can make a path for yourself with your own drive!

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