Perception of emotion in vocal timbre: priming and likert scale datasets

Abstract

These files contain data gathered from experiments run by Kristal Spreadborough as part of her PhD thesis (submitted 2018). The thesis investigates vocal timbre and emotion, as outlined in the following brief thesis abstract: <br> Vocal timbre is a salient musical feature. However little research exists on if and how vocal timbre impacts perception (particularly emotional perception), and there are few techniques available which allow one to analyse vocal timbre in musical contexts. This thesis develops a new analytical technique for vocal timbre based on the hypothesis that emotion expressed in vocal timbre impacts emotional perception of lyrics. In this way, whilecontributing a much needed analytical technique for vocal timbre, this thesis also 1) adds to our understanding of how such a musical feature impacts perception, and 2) is part of a growing trend to use interdisciplinary methods to inform musicological enquiry.