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Directive use in primary caregiver-toddler dyads: A comparison of no risk and at-risk children

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Date Issued:
1999
Summary:
The development of child language within the framework of the family has received increased interest in the past decade. One recent premise is that the use of specific types of language by adults in parent-child dyads affects development. These types of adult language, labeled as directives , are verbal behaviors that communicate to the child that he or she should do, say, or attend to something, and are considered to be related to episodes of joint attention. Posited by this model is that episodes of joint attention lead to greater language development. One type of directive, follow-in, is hypothesized to lead to increased joint attention; while two others, redirectives and introductions , are seen to save either a negative or no role in joint attention, thus making them non-significant or negative in the development of language. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of these specifically defined directives by primary caregivers in adult-toddler dyads and to determine the role each played in episodes of joint attention. Additionally, child engagement outside joint attention episodes was examined with regard to adult directive use. Twenty primary caregiver-toddler dyads participated in the study, with two groups of ten dyads each (at-risk and no risk conditions). Dyads were videotaped at home for one 15-minute session, of which the last 10 minutes were coded for joint attention and child engagement using partial-interval recording. Additionally, each specific directive was tallied and the total number calculated. Results indicated one statistically significant result in the relationship between use of a specific directive (introduction) and number of intervals of child engagement. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the hypothesized model was significantly accurate with regard to the relationship between child engagement and follow-in and introductory directives; however, prediction of intervals of joint attention by type of directive was not significant (p = .487). Additionally, no significance was found in the correlation between directives and joint attention, contradicting the postulated relationship in the model studied. The results of this research suggest that, for use in measuring joint attention, the proposed narrow definitions of directives are not adequate.
Title: Directive use in primary caregiver-toddler dyads: A comparison of no risk and at-risk children.
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Name(s): Babkie, Andrea Margaret, author
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Smiley, Lydia R., Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1999
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, FL
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 133 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The development of child language within the framework of the family has received increased interest in the past decade. One recent premise is that the use of specific types of language by adults in parent-child dyads affects development. These types of adult language, labeled as directives , are verbal behaviors that communicate to the child that he or she should do, say, or attend to something, and are considered to be related to episodes of joint attention. Posited by this model is that episodes of joint attention lead to greater language development. One type of directive, follow-in, is hypothesized to lead to increased joint attention; while two others, redirectives and introductions , are seen to save either a negative or no role in joint attention, thus making them non-significant or negative in the development of language. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of these specifically defined directives by primary caregivers in adult-toddler dyads and to determine the role each played in episodes of joint attention. Additionally, child engagement outside joint attention episodes was examined with regard to adult directive use. Twenty primary caregiver-toddler dyads participated in the study, with two groups of ten dyads each (at-risk and no risk conditions). Dyads were videotaped at home for one 15-minute session, of which the last 10 minutes were coded for joint attention and child engagement using partial-interval recording. Additionally, each specific directive was tallied and the total number calculated. Results indicated one statistically significant result in the relationship between use of a specific directive (introduction) and number of intervals of child engagement. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the hypothesized model was significantly accurate with regard to the relationship between child engagement and follow-in and introductory directives; however, prediction of intervals of joint attention by type of directive was not significant (p = .487). Additionally, no significance was found in the correlation between directives and joint attention, contradicting the postulated relationship in the model studied. The results of this research suggest that, for use in measuring joint attention, the proposed narrow definitions of directives are not adequate.
Identifier: 9780599567238 (isbn), 12613 (digitool), FADT12613 (IID), fau:9497 (fedora)
Degree granted: Thesis (Ed.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1999.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): College of Education
Subject(s): Language acquisition--Parent participation
Children--Language
Developmentally disabled children--Language
Interpersonal communication in children
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12613
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.