Disclosure Matters: How Self-Disclosure Statements in Song Signing Videos Shape d/Deaf Audiences’ Acceptance of Culturally Sensitive Content

Paper Title

Disclosure Matters: How Self-Disclosure Statements in Song Signing Videos Shape d/Deaf Audiences’ Acceptance of Culturally Sensitive Content

Publication Info

• Topic area: Self-disclosure in song signing videos and its impact on d/Deaf audience perceptions.
• Keywords: Self-disclosure, song signing, Deaf culture, cultural representation, accessibility, sign language, cultural appropriation, audience engagement, HCI, social media.

Background and Problem

• Problem / challenge: Non-d/Deaf song signers on platforms like YouTube face criticism for cultural appropriation and misrepresentation of Deaf culture. There is a lack of strategies to address these issues and foster acceptance among d/Deaf viewers.
• Significance: Song signing is a vital cultural expression for the Deaf community, and its misrepresentation can harm cultural integrity and perpetuate stereotypes. Addressing this issue is crucial for ethical and respectful engagement.
• Motivation and related work: Prior research highlights the importance of cultural representation and self-disclosure in fostering trust and reducing prejudice. However, the application of self-disclosure in song signing remains unexplored, leaving a gap in strategies for improving acceptance and transparency.

Solution

• Proposed approach: The study investigates the use of self-disclosure statements (SDS) by non-d/Deaf song signers to clarify their motivations and foster acceptance among d/Deaf viewers.
• Novelty:
  1. Identification of eight key elements for SDS content.
  2. Empirical evaluation of SDS impact on d/Deaf audience perceptions.
  3. Recommendations for crafting culturally responsive SDS.
  4. Exploration of SDS as a mechanism for addressing cultural misrepresentation in HCI and social media contexts.
• Procedure and key techniques:
  1. Conducted interviews with 11 song signers and surveys with 50 viewers to identify SDS elements.
  2. Designed a controlled experiment with 24 d/Deaf participants to evaluate SDS impact on video acceptance.
  3. Analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to assess the importance of SDS elements and their effects on audience perceptions.

Results

• Concrete findings:
  • SDS improved perceptions of song signing videos, with Deaf participants rating videos with SDS significantly higher (mean increase from 2.50 to 3.08).
  • The most important SDS elements were song signing style, relationship to the Deaf community, and sign language used.
  • SDS fostered empathy, understanding, and appreciation among viewers.
• Advantage over baselines:
  • Videos with SDS received higher ratings compared to those without SDS, particularly among Deaf participants.
  • SDS mitigated negative perceptions by clarifying intentions and providing context for performances.
• Experiments / evaluation:
  • Study 1: Mixed-methods approach with 11 song signers and 50 viewers to identify SDS elements.
  • Study 2: Comparative experiment with 24 d/Deaf participants evaluating videos with and without SDS.
  • Metrics: Viewer ratings, qualitative feedback, and thematic analysis of SDS elements.
• Limitations and future work:
  • Small sample size in Study 2 (24 participants) limits generalizability.
  • Exclusion of Deaf song signers in Study 1; future work should include their perspectives.
  • Variability in SDS content may have influenced results; standardized formats could be explored.
  • Long-term effects of SDS on cultural acceptance and trust require further investigation.

Summary

This study examines the role of self-disclosure statements (SDS) in improving the acceptance of song signing videos among d/Deaf audiences. Through interviews, surveys, and a controlled experiment, the researchers identified eight key SDS elements and demonstrated their positive impact on audience perceptions, particularly among Deaf viewers. The findings highlight the importance of transparency, cultural awareness, and structured disclosures in fostering trust and mitigating cultural misrepresentation. Recommendations include setting boundaries for disclosure, crafting structured narratives, and optimizing SDS presentation to balance transparency with performance focus. Future work should explore standardized SDS formats, include Deaf song signers, and investigate long-term impacts.