Audio archives represent an underutilized resource for political science research. This study introduces a novel measure of emotional intensity through small vocal pitch variations, analyzing 74,158 Congressional floor speeches.
Data & Methods: Examined female MPs' speech specifically about women versus other topics and male legislators' comments on the same subjects.
Using quantitative analysis to track subtle pitch changes in audio transcripts.
Key Findings: Female MPs demonstrate significantly greater emotional intensity when discussing issues related to women. This heightened vocal expression appears consistent with their broader policy commitments.
Broader Impact: Our results suggest that emotionally intense speech may influence fellow legislators' behavior and engagement patterns. By demonstrating this approach's validity, we highlight a new methodology for studying political communication dynamics.
| Pitch Perfect: Vocal Pitch and the Emotional Intensity of Congressional Speech on Women was authored by Bryce J. Dietrich, Matthew Hayes and Diana Z. O'Brien. It was published by Cambridge in APSR in 2019. |
