Title of Research Study: Mapping Computational Personality Rights via Audio Embeddings and Human Perception
Principal Investigator: Matthew Groh
Supported By: This research is supported by Northwestern University Management and Organizations department.
Key Information about this research study:
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate how people perceive voices that may be generated or modified by artificial intelligence. We will present audio clips and ask you to identify whether you think the clips match the same speaker or different speakers. This research may provide insights into how AI-generated voices affect our perception of identity and contribute to future guidelines or policies on digital voice replication.
Disclaimer:The speakers of the voices you hear do not endorse or participate in this research.
Time Required and Procedures: You will listen to short audio clips (typically around 10 seconds each) and answer questions about whether they sound like the same speaker. There will be two attention checks throughout the study. You cannot continue if you fail both checks. The study should take about 10–15 minutes.
Voluntary Participation: Your participation is completely voluntary. You can refuse or withdraw at any time without penalty. You do not have to answer any question that makes you uncomfortable.
Risks and Discomforts: We anticipate minimal risk. You can stop at any time by closing the browser.
Potential Benefits: No direct benefit to you is expected. This research may help inform legal, technical, and ethical discussions about AI voice cloning and personality rights.
Why am I being asked to take part in this research study? You are being asked because you are at least 18 years old, understand English, and have arrived at this online study.
How many people will be in this study? We expect thousands of participants will take part in this research study.
What should I know about participating in a research study? You can choose to participate or not, change your mind later, ask questions before deciding, and skip any question you do not wish to answer. You may exit at any time by closing your browser. Your decision will not affect any relationship with Northwestern University or the research team.
What happens if I say, “Yes, I want to be in this research”? We will ask you to listen to pairs of audio clips (one may be AI-generated, the other real, or both real) on the same page and indicate whether they are from the same speaker. You can replay the clips as many times as needed. You will then answer a “yes/no/I cannot decide” question, and may backtrack to change your answers. The session lasts about 10–15 minutes.
Will being in this study help me in any way? We cannot promise personal benefits. Your participation will support research on human perception of AI-generated voices.
Is there any way being in this study could be bad for me? We do not foresee significant risks. You may discontinue at any time without adverse effects.
What happens if I do not want to be in this research, or I change my mind later? Participation is voluntary. If you withdraw at any point, your decision will not affect your relationship with Northwestern University. Any data already collected will be destroyed.
How will the researchers protect my information? No personally identifiable information (PII) will be collected. Your responses and audio judgments are stored on a secure server accessible only to the research team. We may share aggregated, anonymized data publicly, but no information will identify you.
Who will have access to the information collected during this research study? Access is limited to those who need to review it: the research team, Northwestern University officials, auditors, and the Institutional Review Board (IRB). In publications, only summary data are shared. Data are stored indefinitely in ResearchBox after removing all identifiers.
How might the information collected in this study be shared in the future? We will not collect PII and will make anonymized data available for replication and reproducibility. University officials, government officials, study funders, auditors, and the IRB may review the data to ensure proper conduct.
Will I be paid or given anything for taking part in this study? If you participate through Prolific (or another platform), you will receive the specified rate. No payment is made if you withdraw early or fail both attention checks.
Who can I talk to? For questions, concerns, or complaints, contact Principal Investigator Matthew Groh at matthew.groh@kellogg.northwestern.edu. This study is IRB-approved; you may also contact the IRB at (312) 503-9338 or irb@northwestern.edu if your questions are not answered by the research team, you cannot reach them, you want to talk to someone else, or you have questions about your rights as a participant.
If you want a copy of this consent for your records, you can print it from the screen. If you cannot print it and would like a copy, contact the Principal Investigator with the above information.
Title of Research Study: Mapping Computational Personality Rights via Audio Embeddings and Human Perception
Principal Investigator: Matthew Groh
Supported By: This research is supported by Northwestern University Management and Organizations department.
Key Information about this research study:
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate how people perceive voices that may be generated or modified by artificial intelligence. We will present audio clips and ask you to identify whether you think the clips match the same speaker or different speakers. This research may provide insights into how AI-generated voices affect our perception of identity and contribute to future guidelines or policies on digital voice replication.
Disclaimer:The speakers of the voices you hear do not endorse or participate in this research.
Time Required and Procedures: You will listen to short audio clips (typically around 10 seconds each) and answer questions about whether they sound like the same speaker. There will be two attention checks throughout the study. You cannot continue if you fail both checks. The study should take about 10–15 minutes.
Voluntary Participation: Your participation is completely voluntary. You can refuse or withdraw at any time without penalty. You do not have to answer any question that makes you uncomfortable.
Risks and Discomforts: We anticipate minimal risk. You can stop at any time by closing the browser.
Potential Benefits: No direct benefit to you is expected. This research may help inform legal, technical, and ethical discussions about AI voice cloning and personality rights.
Why am I being asked to take part in this research study? You are being asked because you are at least 18 years old, understand English, and have arrived at this online study.
How many people will be in this study? We expect thousands of participants will take part in this research study.
What should I know about participating in a research study? You can choose to participate or not, change your mind later, ask questions before deciding, and skip any question you do not wish to answer. You may exit at any time by closing your browser. Your decision will not affect any relationship with Northwestern University or the research team.
What happens if I say, “Yes, I want to be in this research”? We will ask you to listen to pairs of audio clips (one may be AI-generated, the other real, or both real) on the same page and indicate whether they are from the same speaker. You can replay the clips as many times as needed. You will then answer a “yes/no/I cannot decide” question, and may backtrack to change your answers. The session lasts about 10–15 minutes.
Will being in this study help me in any way? We cannot promise personal benefits. Your participation will support research on human perception of AI-generated voices.
Is there any way being in this study could be bad for me? We do not foresee significant risks. You may discontinue at any time without adverse effects.
What happens if I do not want to be in this research, or I change my mind later? Participation is voluntary. If you withdraw at any point, your decision will not affect your relationship with Northwestern University. Any data already collected will be destroyed.
How will the researchers protect my information? No personally identifiable information (PII) will be collected. Your responses and audio judgments are stored on a secure server accessible only to the research team. We may share aggregated, anonymized data publicly, but no information will identify you.
Who will have access to the information collected during this research study? Access is limited to those who need to review it: the research team, Northwestern University officials, auditors, and the Institutional Review Board (IRB). In publications, only summary data are shared. Data are stored indefinitely in ResearchBox after removing all identifiers.
How might the information collected in this study be shared in the future? We will not collect PII and will make anonymized data available for replication and reproducibility. University officials, government officials, study funders, auditors, and the IRB may review the data to ensure proper conduct.
Will I be paid or given anything for taking part in this study? If you participate through Prolific (or another platform), you will receive the specified rate. No payment is made if you withdraw early or fail both attention checks.
Who can I talk to? For questions, concerns, or complaints, contact Principal Investigator Matthew Groh at matthew.groh@kellogg.northwestern.edu. This study is IRB-approved; you may also contact the IRB at (312) 503-9338 or irb@northwestern.edu if your questions are not answered by the research team, you cannot reach them, you want to talk to someone else, or you have questions about your rights as a participant.
If you want a copy of this consent for your records, you can print it from the screen. If you cannot print it and would like a copy, contact the Principal Investigator with the above information.