Adolescents’ Perceptions of their Peers who Stutter

Dixon Kirsch and Marilyn Nippold

The current study provides needed information related to adolescents’ perceptions of their peers who stutter. Eighth and eleventh grade students (n = 251) were randomly assigned to view a videotaped interview of either a peer who stuttered or a peer who demonstrated normal speech patterns, but not both. After viewing the videotape, the participants were asked to rate the speaker on seven personality traits using 5-point semantic differential scales. Results of the study indicate that the individual who stuttered was rated less positively than the individual who demonstrated fluent speech on six of the seven personality traits.