Benefits of sign language interpreting and text alternatives for deaf students' classroom learning

Marc Marschark, Greg Leigh, Patricia Sapere, Denis K. Burnham, Carol Convertino, Michael Stinson, Harry Knoors, Mathijs P. J. Vervloed, William Noble

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    71 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Four experiments examined the utility of real-time text in supporting deaf students' learning from lectures in postsecondary (Experiments 1 and 2) and secondary classrooms (Experiments 3 and 4). Experiment 1 compared the effects on learning of sign language interpreting, real-time text (C-Print), and both. Real-time text alone led to significantly higher performance by deaf students than the other two conditions, but performance by deaf students in all conditions was significantly below that of hearing peers who saw lectures without any support services. Experiment 2 compared interpreting and two forms of real-time text, C-Print and Communication Access Real-Time Translation, at immediate testing and after a 1-week delay (with study notes). No significant differences among support services were obtained at either testing. Experiment 3 also failed to reveal significant effects at immediate or delayed testing in a comparison of real-time text, direct (signed) instruction, and both. Experiment 4 found no significant differences between interpreting and interpreting plus real-time text on the learning of either new words or the content of television programs. Alternative accounts of the observed pattern of results are considered, but it is concluded that neither sign language interpreting nor real-time text have any inherent, generalized advantage over the other in supporting deaf students in secondary or postsecondary settings. Providing deaf students with both services simultaneously does not appear to provide any generalized benefit, at least for the kinds of materials utilized here.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
    Publication statusPublished - 2006

    Keywords

    • deaf students
    • interpreting
    • real-time text
    • sign language

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Benefits of sign language interpreting and text alternatives for deaf students' classroom learning'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this