A pilot study analyzed oral interpretation ballots collected at two college forensics tournaments to determine the average number and classifications of comments on the ballots. A total of 1,737 comments from 304 ballots of oral interpretation events (prose, poetry, program, duo, and dramatic) were analyzed. Results indicated a mean of 5.71…

A study determined whether or not current forensic judges provide critiques that meet F.P. Trimble's guidelines for improving interpretation ballots. From a randomly selected sample of 150 ballots, 79 ballots were critiques of interpretation events. Each ballot was analyzed as a unit. Results indicated that (1) few forensic judges divulge their…

A study examined the beliefs and attitudes of students, coaches, and judges on the use of manuscripts at the college level in oral interpretation events (prose, drama, program oral interpretation, dramatic duo, and poetry). Survey data were collected from students, coach-judges, and hired judges participating in a Midwestern forensics tournament…

A metacritical judging model for contest oral interpretation that evaluates the performer's critical decisions is designed to meet three criteria: (1) it attempts to incorporate the advances of oral interpretation scholars outside the forensics community with the activity at forensics tournaments, (2) it recognizes that forensics competition is…

This study concluded that judges' critical responses to interpretation performances reflect a view of interpretation as primarily a performing art rather than a communicative act or literature study. (PD)

Contends that inconsistent judging often leaves contestants more confused than educated. Analyzes the effects of training and experience on judges' agreement in oral interpretation contests. (PD)

A study was designed to see how judge experience and training sessions influenced interjudge agreement during high school speech contests. Three groups of six judges each viewed a videotape of five poetry readings, gave the performers ratings and rankings, engaged in 30-minute group training sessions, viewed a second videotape of five poetry…

To analyze the usefulness of forensics judges' written comments and to understand how to improve ballots, a content analysis of 175 ballots from schools in a competition district was conducted. Categories for analysis included the following: (1) quantity of comments; (2) format of the ballot; (3) types of comments (including selection,…

This study was designed to determine forensics students' ability to predict accurately how judges they knew from previous tournaments would rank them in rounds of competitive individual events. The study examined the following hypotheses: (1) contestants can predict how they will do in rounds of competition; and (2) contestants in prepared oral…