1
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Gao C, Wang F, Danovitch JH. Can touchscreens replace teachers? Chinese children's character learning from a touchscreen-based app, video, or face-to-face instruction. J Exp Child Psychol 2024; 244:105961. [PMID: 38776633 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2024.105961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Given the increasing prevalence of touchscreen devices that are intended for educational purposes, this study explored children's transfer of learning from touchscreen media compared with video and offline face-to-face learning. A total of 76 5- and 6-year-old Chinese kindergarten children (M = 68.21 months, SD = 3.57, range = 62-76; 30 boys and 46 girls) were randomly assigned to learn eight Chinese characters using a touchscreen-based app, using a video, or through face-to-face interaction. Learning was measured via the recall task scores, recognition task scores, recall efficiency, and recognition efficiency. The results revealed that children's recall and recognition task scores improved when learning took place using the touchscreen or face-to-face interaction. Children's recall efficiency and recognition efficiency were strongest in the face-to-face condition, followed by the touchscreen condition and then the video condition. The effects of instructional format on children's recall and recognition scores and recall efficiency were moderated by age; younger children's recall and recognition scores in the face-to-face condition and the touchscreen condition were significantly higher than in the video condition, yet older children's recall and recognition scores did not differ between conditions. However, for recall efficiency, younger children's recall efficiency in the face-to-face condition and the touchscreen condition was significantly higher than in the video condition; older children's recall efficiency in the face-to-face condition was higher than in both the touchscreen condition and the video condition. In conclusion, both face-to-face interaction and a touchscreen-based app were helpful ways for children to learn Chinese characters compared with video, but face-to-face learning showed advantages over touchscreen learning in recall efficiency for older children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunying Gao
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China; Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Fuxing Wang
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China.
| | - Judith H Danovitch
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
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2
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Wu Y, Cao X, Nielsen M, Mao Y, Wang F. Dragging but not tapping promotes preschoolers' numerical estimating with touchscreens. J Exp Child Psychol 2024; 246:105989. [PMID: 38889478 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2024.105989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
When solving mathematical problems, young children will perform better when they can use gestures that match mental representations. However, despite their increasing prevalence in educational settings, few studies have explored this effect in touchscreen-based interactions. Thus, we investigated the impact on young children's performance of dragging (where a continuous gesture is performed that is congruent with the change in number) and tapping (involving a discrete gesture that is incongruent) on a touchscreen device when engaged in a continuous number line estimation task. By examining differences in the set size and position of the number line estimation, we were also able to explore the boundary conditions for the superiority effect of congruent gestures. We used a 2 (Gesture Type: drag or tap) × 2 (Set Size: Set 0-10 or Set 0-20) × 2 (Position: left of midpoint or right of midpoint) mixed design. A total of 70 children aged 5 and 6 years (33 girls) were recruited and randomly assigned to either the Drag or Tap group. We found that the congruent gesture (drag) generally facilitated better performance with the touchscreen but with boundary conditions. When completing difficult estimations (right side in the large set size), the Drag group was more accurate, responded to the stimulus faster, and spent more time manipulating than the Tap group. These findings suggest that when children require explicit scaffolding, congruent touchscreen gestures help to release mental resources for strategic adjustments, decrease the difficulty of numerical estimation, and support constructing mental representations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyi Wu
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China
| | - Xinyun Cao
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China
| | - Mark Nielsen
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
| | - Yichen Mao
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China
| | - Fuxing Wang
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China; School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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3
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Jing M, Ye T, Kirkorian HL, Mares ML. Screen media exposure and young children's vocabulary learning and development: A meta-analysis. Child Dev 2023; 94:1398-1418. [PMID: 37042116 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
This meta-analysis synthesizes research on media use in early childhood (0-6 years), word-learning, and vocabulary size. Multi-level analyses included 266 effect sizes from 63 studies (Ntotal = 11,413) published between 1988-2022. Among samples with information about race/ethnicity (51%) and sex/gender (73%), most were majority White/Non-Hispanic and between 40%-60% female. Analyses revealed a small overall positive relation between screen media exposure and vocabulary (r = .23). Experimental studies yielded a small-to-medium effect (r = .30), with stronger effects for e-books than TV/video or games/apps, and non-significant effects for video chat. In correlational studies, there was no overall association between vocabulary size and naturalistic media exposure (r = .07), with the exception of naturalistic exposure to educational media (r = .17).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengguo Jing
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ting Ye
- Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Heather L Kirkorian
- Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Marie-Louise Mares
- Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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4
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Swider-Cios E, Vermeij A, Sitskoorn MM. Young children and screen-based media: The impact on cognitive and socioemotional development and the importance of parental mediation. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2023.101319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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5
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Glick AR, Saiyed FS, Kutlesa K, Onishi KH, Nadig AS. Implications of video chat use for young children's learning and social-emotional development: Learning words, taking turns, and fostering familial relationships. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2022; 13:e1599. [PMID: 35609141 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Parents of young children use video chat differently than other screen media, paralleling expert recommendations (e.g., American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media, 2016), which suggest that video chat, unlike other screen media, is acceptable for use by children under 18 months. Video chat is unique among screen media in that it permits contingent (time-sensitive and content-sensitive) social interactions. Contingent social interactions take place between a child and a partner (dyadic), with objects (triadic), and with multiple others (multi-party configurations), which critically underpin development in multiple domains. First, we review how contingent social interaction may underlie video chat's advantages in two domains: for learning (specifically learning new words) and for social-emotional development (specifically taking turns and fostering familial relationships). Second, we describe constraints on video chat use and how using chat with an active adult (co-viewing) may mitigate some of its limitations. Finally, we suggest future research directions that will clarify the potential advantages and impediments to the use of video chat by young children. This article is categorized under: Linguistics > Language Acquisition Psychology > Learning Cognitive Biology > Social Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron R Glick
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Research in Brain, Language, and Music, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fauzia S Saiyed
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Education and Human Services, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Katia Kutlesa
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kristine H Onishi
- Centre for Research in Brain, Language, and Music, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Aparna S Nadig
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Research in Brain, Language, and Music, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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6
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Benton DT. The elusive “Developmental Mechanism”: What they are and how to study and test them. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2022.101034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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7
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Munzer TG, Miller AL, Yeo S, Wang Y, McCaffery H, Kaciroti N, Radesky J. Parent Verbalizations and Toddler Responses With Touchscreen Tablet Nursery Rhyme Apps. Pediatrics 2021; 148:e2021049964. [PMID: 34841433 PMCID: PMC10777329 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-049964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In some studies, parents and toddlers verbalize less when engaging with a tablet versus a print book. More needs to be known regarding child contributions to specific parent verbalizations. We examined parent-toddler contingent interactions with tablet applications versus print books, as well as moderators of these associations. METHODS We conducted a laboratory-based, within-subjects counterbalanced study of 72 parent-toddler dyads engaging with a nursery rhyme application (with enhanced + autonarration [E+A] and enhanced formats) and print book. We coded parent verbalizations (eg, dialogic, nondialogic) and proportions of child responses to these in 5-second epochs. Poisson regressions were used to analyze within-subjects variance by tablet or print format. We tested effect modification by child emotion regulation and home media practices. RESULTS Children responded more to parent overall (print 0.38; E+A 0.31, P = .04; enhanced 0.11, P = .01), dialogic (print 0.21; E+A 0.13, P = .04; enhanced 0.1, P = .02), and nondialogic (print 0.45; E+A 0.27, P < .001; enhanced 0.32, P < .001) verbalizations during print book versus tablet. Stronger child emotion regulation, greater frequency of co-viewing, and instructive practices moderated associations such that differences between conditions were no longer significant for some parent verbalizations and child responses. CONCLUSIONS Parent-toddler reciprocal verbal interactions occurred less frequently with tablet versus print book use. Child emotion regulation and parent home media practices moderated some of these associations. Pediatricians may wish to promote co-viewing and instructive media practices but may also consider that child emotion regulation may determine response to interactive tablet design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical School
| | | | - Niko Kaciroti
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical School
- Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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8
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Okumura Y, Kobayashi T. Contingent experience with touchscreens promotes parent-child conversations. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2021.101100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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9
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Lawrence A, Choe DE. Mobile Media and Young Children's Cognitive Skills: A Review. Acad Pediatr 2021; 21:996-1000. [PMID: 33486100 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Though the use of mobile devices (eg, tablets, smartphones) by young children is pervasive and increasing, research relating children's use of mobile devices to their development is only beginning to emerge. Learning, language development, and self-regulation skills among children aged 0 to 5 are of particular interest to pediatric clinicians, researchers, parents, and policymakers, as these skills foreshadow important outcomes across the lifespan. Experimental research reviewed herein suggests that the interactivity allowed by mobile devices has benefits over passive viewing (for example, of television) for young children's learning and self-regulation, but studies of naturalistic use suggest increased use of mobile devices is associated with poorer language and self-regulation. Pediatric clinicians can be important sources of support for families endeavoring to navigate their children's use of mobile devices by providing advice and resources, such as communicating reasonable time limits and sharing sources of developmentally appropriate content. Future research should implement innovative, rigorous research designs and methods to clarify mechanisms underlying potential negative effects of naturalistic use of mobile devices by young children and investigate how content and context of young children's mobile-device use may influence relations between such use and children's skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Lawrence
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California (A Lawrence, DE Choe), Davis Calif.
| | - Daniel Ewon Choe
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California (A Lawrence, DE Choe), Davis Calif
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10
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Infant media use: A harm reduction approach. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 64:101610. [PMID: 34298189 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
There are a myriad of potentially harmful developmental outcomes associated with infant digital media use. Studies revealing risk associated with early media use have informed the current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations that discourage most digital media use among children under 18 months of age. Recent research advances, however, suggest potential benefits of technology engagement in this age group. Additionally, surveys of parents reveal that most infants engage with digital media for at least 30 min a day, exceeding the AAP recommendations. In response to these discoveries and cultural trends, some scholars have made compelling cases to adapt the AAP guidelines for infants. A helpful model for developing infant digital media use guidelines for families may be the harm reduction approach. The intent of this review is to suggest adaptations to the AAP guidelines for infant media engagement using a harm reduction framework. This review describes the challenge of restrictive guidelines, briefly summarizes the harm reduction approach, provides a review of risks and benefits associated with infant media use in each developmental domain (physical, cognitive, and socioemotional), summarizes correlates of infant screen media use, and examines intervention strategies for reducing screen time. The paper concludes with examples of possible adaptations to current AAP infant media use recommendations using harm reduction and bioecological frameworks.
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11
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Courage ML, Frizzell LM, Walsh CS, Smith M. Toddlers Using Tablets: They Engage, Play, and Learn. Front Psychol 2021; 12:564479. [PMID: 34135793 PMCID: PMC8200401 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.564479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although very young children have unprecedented access to touchscreen devices, there is limited research on how successfully they operate these devices for play and learning. For infants and toddlers, whose cognitive, fine motor, and executive functions are immature, several basic questions are significant: (1) Can they operate a tablet purposefully to achieve a goal? (2) Can they acquire operating skills and learn new information from commercially available apps? (3) Do individual differences in executive functioning predict success in using and learning from the apps? Accordingly, 31 2-year-olds (M = 30.82 month, SD = 2.70; 18 female) were compared with 29 3-year-olds (M = 40.92 month, SD = 4.82; 13 female) using two commercially available apps with different task and skill requirements: (1) a shape matching app performed across 3 days, and (2) a storybook app with performance compared to that on a matched paper storybook. Children also completed (3) the Minnesota Executive Functioning Scale. An adult provided minimal scaffolding throughout. The results showed: (1) toddlers could provide simple goal-directed touch gestures and the manual interactions needed to operate the tablet (2) after controlling for prior experience with shape matching, toddlers’ increased success and efficiency, made fewer errors, decreased completion times, and required less scaffolding across trials, (3) they recognized more story content from the e-book and were less distracted than from the paper book, (4) executive functioning contributed unique variance to the outcome measures on both apps, and (5) 3-year-olds outperformed 2-year-olds on all measures. The results are discussed in terms of the potential of interactive devices to support toddlers’ learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary L Courage
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Lynn M Frizzell
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Colin S Walsh
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Megan Smith
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
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12
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Choi K, Kirkorian HL, Pempek TA. Touchscreens for Whom? Working Memory and Age Moderate the Impact of Contingency on Toddlers' Transfer From Video. Front Psychol 2021; 12:621372. [PMID: 33716887 PMCID: PMC7943612 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.621372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Toddlers exhibit poor transfer between video and real-world contexts. Contingently responsive video such as that found in touchscreen apps appears to assist transfer for some toddlers but not others. This study investigated the extent to which toddlers' working memory moderates the impact of contingency on toddler's transfer of learning from video. Toddlers (24–36 months; N = 134) watched a hiding event on either (a) contingent video that advanced only after touch input or (b) non-contingent video that proceeded automatically. Toddlers then searched for a corresponding object on a felt board. Additionally, toddlers' working memory (WM) was assessed. Findings indicate WM and age moderated the impact of contingency on transfer: Contingency decreased transfer in younger children while increasing transfer among older children. However, this was only true for children with relatively low WM. Contingency had little impact on transfer among children with relatively high WM, regardless of age. Results from this study suggest that WM is one specific moderator that predicts whether toddlers are likely to learn from contingent vs. non-contingent video, yet WM does not operate in isolation. Together, these findings underscore the importance of considering multiple child characteristics when identifying the optimal conditions for toddlers' learning from symbolic media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koeun Choi
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Heather L Kirkorian
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Tiffany A Pempek
- Department of Psychology, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA, United States
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13
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Ackermann L, Lo CH, Mani N, Mayor J. Word learning from a tablet app: Toddlers perform better in a passive context. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240519. [PMID: 33259476 PMCID: PMC7707543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the popularity of tablets has skyrocketed and there has been an explosive growth in apps designed for children. Howhever, many of these apps are released without tests for their effectiveness. This is worrying given that the factors influencing children's learning from touchscreen devices need to be examined in detail. In particular, it has been suggested that children learn less from passive video viewing relative to equivalent live interaction, which would have implications for learning from such digital tools. However, this so-called video deficit may be reduced by allowing children greater influence over their learning environment. Across two touchscreen-based experiments, we examined whether 2- to 4-year-olds benefit from actively choosing what to learn more about in a digital word learning task. We designed a tablet study in which "active" participants were allowed to choose which objects they were taught the label of, while yoked "passive" participants were presented with the objects chosen by their active peers. We then examined recognition of the learned associations across different tasks. In Experiment 1, children in the passive condition outperformed those in the active condition (n = 130). While Experiment 2 replicated these findings in a new group of Malay-speaking children (n = 32), there were no differences in children's learning or recognition of the novel word-object associations using a more implicit looking time measure. These results suggest that there may be performance costs associated with active tasks designed as in the current study, and at the very least, there may not always be systematic benefits associated with active learning in touchscreen-based word learning tasks. The current studies add to the evidence that educational apps need to be evaluated before release: While children might benefit from interactive apps under certain conditions, task design and requirements need to consider factors that may detract from successful performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Ackermann
- Psychology of Language Department, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz Science Campus “Primate Cognition”, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Chang Huan Lo
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia
| | - Nivedita Mani
- Psychology of Language Department, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz Science Campus “Primate Cognition”, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julien Mayor
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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14
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Dore RA, Logan J, Lin TJ, Purtell KM, Justice L. Characteristics of Children's Media Use and Gains in Language and Literacy Skills. Front Psychol 2020; 11:2224. [PMID: 33013579 PMCID: PMC7509086 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Media use could be detrimental to children's language and literacy skills because it may displace other language-enhancing activities like shared reading and caregiver-child interactions. Furthermore, the extent to which children use media with adults (joint media engagement), the extent to which they use interactive media (apps/games), and the time of the day and week during which media use occurs may attenuate any negative effects. The current study examines the relation between characteristics of children's media use and gains in first graders' language and literacy skills. Children (N = 488) completed direct assessments of language and literacy skills in the spring of kindergarten and the spring of first grade. Parents reported how many hours children used both interactive and non-interactive media during different times of the day on the most recent weekday and weekend day and responded to items about the extent to which they engage with their children during media use. A quadratic relationship between media use and language gains showed that a moderate amount of media use was related to larger language gains, whereas high use was related to smaller gains. For literacy, an interaction between media use and joint media engagement showed a small negative effect of media use at low levels of joint media engagement and little to no relation between media use and literacy gains at higher levels of joint media engagement. Children's language and literacy skills were not predicted by either the proportion of media time that was spent with apps/games or morning and weekday media use. These results show that moderate amounts of media use may not be a negative influence on children's developing language skills, whereas high levels may displace other language-enhancing activities. Additionally, joint media engagement may play an important buffering role in the relation between media use and early literacy skills, aligned with current recommendations encouraging co-viewing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A. Dore
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jessica Logan
- Department of Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Tzu-Jung Lin
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Kelly M. Purtell
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Laura Justice
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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15
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Gaudreau C, King YA, Dore RA, Puttre H, Nichols D, Hirsh-Pasek K, Golinkoff RM. Preschoolers Benefit Equally From Video Chat, Pseudo-Contingent Video, and Live Book Reading: Implications for Storytime During the Coronavirus Pandemic and Beyond. Front Psychol 2020; 11:2158. [PMID: 33013552 PMCID: PMC7494800 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
During the unprecedented coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, virtual education activities have become more prevalent than ever. One activity that many families have incorporated into their routines while at home is virtual storytime, with teachers, grandparents, and other remote adults reading books to children over video chat. The current study asks how dialogic reading over video chat compares to more traditional forms of book reading in promoting story comprehension and vocabulary learning. Fifty-eight 4-year-olds (M age = 52.7, SD = 4.04, 31 girls) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (Video chat, Live, and Prerecorded). Across conditions, children were read the same narrative storybook by a female experimenter who used the same 10 scripted dialogic reading prompts during book reading. In the Video chat (n = 21) and Live conditions (n = 18), the experimenter gave the scripted prompts and interacted naturally and contingently, responding in a timely, relevant manner to children's behaviors. In the Prerecorded condition (n = 19), children viewed a video of an experimenter reading the book. The Prerecorded condition was pseudo-contingent; the reader posed questions and paused for a set period of time as if to wait for a child's response. After reading, children completed measures of vocabulary and comprehension. Results revealed no differences between conditions across six different outcome measures, suggesting that children comprehended and learned from the story similarly across book formats. Further, children in the three experimental conditions scored significantly higher on measures than children in a fourth condition (control) who had never read the book, confirming that children learned from the three different book formats. However, children were more responsive to the prompts in the Live and Video chat conditions than the Prerecorded condition, suggesting that children recognized that these interactions were contingent with their responses, a feature that was lacking in the Prerecorded condition. Results indicate that children can comprehend books over video chat, suggesting that this technology is a viable option for reading to children, especially during the current pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Gaudreau
- College of Education and Human Development, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Yemimah A. King
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Rebecca A. Dore
- College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Hannah Puttre
- Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Deborah Nichols
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Kathy Hirsh-Pasek
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC, United States
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16
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Lenninger S, Persson T, van de Weijer J, Sonesson G. Mirror, Peephole and Video - The Role of Contiguity in Children's Perception of Reference in Iconic Signs. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1622. [PMID: 32760329 PMCID: PMC7371794 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study looked at the extent to which 2-year-old children benefited from information conveyed by viewing a hiding event through an opening in a cardboard screen, seeing it as live video, as pre-recorded video, or by way of a mirror. Being encouraged to find the hidden object by selecting one out of two cups, the children successfully picked the baited cup significantly more often when they had viewed the hiding through the opening, or in live video, than when they viewed it in pre-recorded video, or by way of a mirror. All conditions rely on the perception of similarity. The study suggests, however, that contiguity – i.e., the perception of temporal and physical closeness between events – rather than similarity is the principal factor accounting for the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lenninger
- Centre for Languages and Literature, Cognitive Semiotics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Early Childhood Education, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden
| | - Tomas Persson
- Department of Philosophy, Cognitive Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Göran Sonesson
- Centre for Languages and Literature, Cognitive Semiotics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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17
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Jauck D, Peralta O. Two-Year-Olds' Symbolic Use of Images Provided by a Tablet: A Transfer Study. Front Psychol 2020; 10:2891. [PMID: 31920899 PMCID: PMC6932993 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Touch screen devices are nowadays part of everyday life and parents and educators assume that young children use their images in a symbolic way. This research aims at replicating and expanding a previous one that reported that, contrary to expectations and to studies with printed or video images, 2-year-old children used the images on a touch screen tablet to retrieve a hidden object (Search), but not to communicate the location of an object they have observed being hidden (Point). In this research, we carried out a transfer study comparing the performance of an Experimental (Search-Point) and a Control group (Point-Point). First, we found that the Experimental group outperformed the Control group. Second, we found that the successful symbolic previous experience gained in the Search tasks was transferred to the Point task, task which 2-year-olds otherwise fail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Jauck
- Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina (CONICET), Rosario, Argentina.,Facultad de Psicología y Relaciones Humanas, Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Olga Peralta
- Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina (CONICET), Rosario, Argentina.,Facultad de Psicología y Relaciones Humanas, Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI), Rosario, Argentina
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18
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Dore RA, Logan J, Lin TJ, Purtell KM, Justice L. Characteristics of Children's Media Use and Gains in Language and Literacy Skills. Front Psychol 2020. [PMID: 33013579 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02224/bibtex] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Media use could be detrimental to children's language and literacy skills because it may displace other language-enhancing activities like shared reading and caregiver-child interactions. Furthermore, the extent to which children use media with adults (joint media engagement), the extent to which they use interactive media (apps/games), and the time of the day and week during which media use occurs may attenuate any negative effects. The current study examines the relation between characteristics of children's media use and gains in first graders' language and literacy skills. Children (N = 488) completed direct assessments of language and literacy skills in the spring of kindergarten and the spring of first grade. Parents reported how many hours children used both interactive and non-interactive media during different times of the day on the most recent weekday and weekend day and responded to items about the extent to which they engage with their children during media use. A quadratic relationship between media use and language gains showed that a moderate amount of media use was related to larger language gains, whereas high use was related to smaller gains. For literacy, an interaction between media use and joint media engagement showed a small negative effect of media use at low levels of joint media engagement and little to no relation between media use and literacy gains at higher levels of joint media engagement. Children's language and literacy skills were not predicted by either the proportion of media time that was spent with apps/games or morning and weekday media use. These results show that moderate amounts of media use may not be a negative influence on children's developing language skills, whereas high levels may displace other language-enhancing activities. Additionally, joint media engagement may play an important buffering role in the relation between media use and early literacy skills, aligned with current recommendations encouraging co-viewing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Dore
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jessica Logan
- Department of Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Tzu-Jung Lin
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Kelly M Purtell
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Laura Justice
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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19
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Receptive versus interactive video screens: A role for the brain's default mode network in learning from media. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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20
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Troseth GL, Flores I, Stuckelman ZD. When Representation Becomes Reality: Interactive Digital Media and Symbolic Development. ADVANCES IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 56:65-108. [PMID: 30846051 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acdb.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
One challenge of using an interesting object such as a scale model as a symbol for something else is children's deep interest in the object itself. Attending to the model (the symbol) as a toy, children do not use information about where in the model a tiny dog is hiding to mentally represent where a larger dog is hiding in the full-sized room (the referent). Young children use pictures in this way because they are relatively uninteresting as objects. Today, interactive images on touchscreens function as virtual objects on which to act and which respond to the user's actions. In this chapter, we examine how interactive symbolic media (e.g., touchscreens, video chat, augmented reality) might affect children's symbolic development and the way that psychologists think about representational objects. Young children's learning about and from interactive media may depend upon adults scaffolding children's use of these new cultural tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgene L Troseth
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
| | - Israel Flores
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Zachary D Stuckelman
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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21
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Xie H, Peng J, Qin M, Huang X, Tian F, Zhou Z. Can Touchscreen Devices be Used to Facilitate Young Children's Learning? A Meta-Analysis of Touchscreen Learning Effect. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2580. [PMID: 30618995 PMCID: PMC6305619 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of the continuous stream of touchscreen apps that are claimed to be educational and the increasing use of touchscreen devices in early childhood, considerable attention is being paid to the effect of touchscreens on young children's learning. However, the existing empirical findings in young child samples are not consistent. In this meta-analysis we tested the overall effect of touchscreen devices on young children's (0- to 5-year-olds) learning performance, as well as moderators of this effect, based on 36 empirical articles (79 effect sizes) involving 4,206 participants. The overall analysis showed a significant touchscreen learning effect (d = 0.46), indicating that young children indeed benefited from touchscreen learning. Interestingly, age, learning material domain, comparison group, and experimental environment significantly moderated the effect of touchscreen devices on young children's learning outcome. These findings shed light on the role of touchscreen-related physical experience in early childhood education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heping Xie
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ji Peng
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengyuan Qin
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuzhe Huang
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
- Air Force Early Warning Academy, Wuhan, China
| | - Zongkui Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
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22
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Simonsohn U. Two Lines: A Valid Alternative to the Invalid Testing of U-Shaped Relationships With Quadratic Regressions. ADVANCES IN METHODS AND PRACTICES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/2515245918805755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Many psychological theories predict U-shaped relationships: The effect of x is positive for low values of x, but negative for high values, or vice versa. Despite implying merely a change of sign, hypotheses about U-shaped functions are tested almost exclusively via quadratic regressions, an approach that imposes an arbitrary functional-form assumption that in some scenarios can lead to a 100% rate of false positives (e.g., the incorrect conclusion that y = log( x) is U shaped). Estimating two regression lines, one for low and one for high values of x, allows testing for a sign change without a functional-form assumption. I introduce the Robin Hood algorithm as a way to set the break point between the lines. This algorithm delivers higher power to detect U shapes than all the other break-point-setting alternatives I compared with it. The article includes simulations demonstrating the performance of the two-lines test and reanalyses of published results using this test. An app for running the two-lines test is available at http://webstimate.org/twolines .
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23
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The effects of screen media content on young children’s executive functioning. J Exp Child Psychol 2018; 170:72-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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24
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Kirkorian HL. When and How Do Interactive Digital Media Help Children Connect What They See On and Off the Screen? CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/cdep.12290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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25
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Ho A, Lee J, Wood E, Kassies S, Heinbuck C. Tap, swipe, and build: Parental spatial input during iPad®and toy play. INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/icd.2061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Ho
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science; Wilfrid Laurier University; Waterloo Ontario Canada
| | - Joanne Lee
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science; Wilfrid Laurier University; Waterloo Ontario Canada
| | - Eileen Wood
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science; Wilfrid Laurier University; Waterloo Ontario Canada
| | - Samantha Kassies
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science; Wilfrid Laurier University; Waterloo Ontario Canada
| | - Carissa Heinbuck
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science; Wilfrid Laurier University; Waterloo Ontario Canada
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26
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Choi K, Kirkorian HL, Pempek TA. Understanding the Transfer Deficit: Contextual Mismatch, Proactive Interference, and Working Memory Affect Toddlers’ Video‐Based Transfer. Child Dev 2017; 89:1378-1393. [DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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27
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Russo-Johnson C, Troseth G, Duncan C, Mesghina A. All Tapped Out: Touchscreen Interactivity and Young Children's Word Learning. Front Psychol 2017; 8:578. [PMID: 28446895 PMCID: PMC5388766 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Touchscreen devices differ from passive screen media in promoting physical interaction with events on the screen. Two studies examined how young children's screen-directed actions related to self-regulation (Study 1) and word learning (Study 2). In Study 1, 30 2-year-old children's tapping behaviors during game play were related to their self-regulation, measured using Carlson's snack task: girls and children with high self-regulation tapped significantly less during instruction portions of an app (including object labeling events) than did boys and children with low self-regulation. Older preschoolers (N = 47, aged 4-6 years) tapped significantly less during instruction than 2-year-olds did. Study 2 explored whether the particular way in which 170 children (2-4 years of age) interacted with a touchscreen app affected their learning of novel object labels. Conditions in which children tapped or dragged a named object to move it across the screen required different amounts of effort and focus, compared to a non-interactive (watching) condition. Age by sex interactions revealed a particular benefit of dragging (a motorically challenging behavior) for preschool girls' learning compared to that of boys, especially for girls older than age 2. Boys benefited more from watching than dragging. Children from low socioeconomic status families learned more object names when dragging objects versus tapping them, possibly because tapping is a prepotent response that does not require thoughtful attention. Parents and industry experts should consider age, sex, self-regulation, and the physical requirements of children's engagement with touchscreens when designing and using educational content.
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28
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Galetzka C. Commentary: Mobile and Interactive Media Use by Young Children: The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown. Front Psychol 2017; 8:461. [PMID: 28400746 PMCID: PMC5368416 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cedric Galetzka
- Division of Cognitive Sciences, Psychology Department, University of PotsdamPotsdam, Germany
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29
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Kirkorian HL, Choi K. Associations Between Toddlers' Naturalistic Media Experience and Observed Learning from Screens. INFANCY 2016; 22:271-277. [DOI: 10.1111/infa.12171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Koeun Choi
- Human Development and Family Studies Department University of Wisconsin‐Madison
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30
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Schroeder EL, Kirkorian HL. When Seeing Is Better than Doing: Preschoolers' Transfer of STEM Skills Using Touchscreen Games. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1377. [PMID: 27679590 PMCID: PMC5020045 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which character familiarity and game interactivity moderate preschoolers’ learning and transfer from digital games. The games were based on a popular television show and designed to test skills related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics): numerical cognition (quantity of different sets) and knowledge of a biological concept (growth). Preschoolers (3.0–5.5 years, N = 44) were assigned to play one game and watch a recording of an experimenter playing the other game. Learning was assessed during pre-test and post-test using screenshots from the game. Transfer was assessed using modified screenshots (near) and real-life objects (far). Familiarity was assessed by asking children to identify the television characters and program. Findings indicate that the effectiveness of the games varied by age and condition: younger children learned from the quantity game, but only when they watched (rather than played) the game. They did not transfer this information in either condition. Conversely, older children learned from the growth game regardless of whether they played or watched. However, older children only demonstrated far transfer if they watched (rather than played) the growth game. Thus, preschoolers may benefit more by watching a video than by playing a game if the game is cognitively demanding, perhaps because making decisions while playing the game increases cognitive load. Character familiarity did not predict learning, perhaps because there was little overlap between the lessons presented in the television program and game. Findings from the current study highlight the need for more research into educational games and applications designed for preschoolers in order to establish whether, how, and for whom screen media can be educationally valuable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Schroeder
- Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Heather L Kirkorian
- Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI USA
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31
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Zack E, Barr R. The Role of Interactional Quality in Learning from Touch Screens during Infancy: Context Matters. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1264. [PMID: 27625613 PMCID: PMC5003922 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactional quality has been shown to enhance learning during book reading and play, but has not been examined during touch screen use. Learning to apply knowledge from a touch screen is complex for infants because it involves transfer of learning between a two-dimensional (2D) screen and three-dimensional (3D) object in the physical world. This study uses a touch screen procedure to examine interactional quality measured via maternal structuring, diversity of maternal language, and dyadic emotional responsiveness and infant outcomes during a transfer of learning task. Fifty 15-month-old infants and their mothers participated in this semi-naturalistic teaching task. Mothers were given a 3D object, and a static image of the object presented on a touch screen. Mothers had 5 min to teach their infant that a button on the real toy works in the same way as a virtual button on the touch screen (or vice versa). Overall, 64% of infants learned how to make the button work, transferring learning from the touch screen to the 3D object or vice versa. Infants were just as successful in the 3D to 2D transfer direction as they were in the 2D to 3D transfer direction. A cluster analysis based on emotional responsiveness, the proportion of diverse maternal verbal input, and amount of maternal structuring resulted in two levels of interactional quality: high quality and moderate quality. A logistic regression revealed the level of interactional quality predicted infant transfer. Infants were 19 times more likely to succeed and transfer learning between the touch screen and real object if they were in a high interactional quality dyad, even after controlling for infant activity levels. The present findings suggest that interactional quality between mother and infant plays an important role in making touch screens effective teaching tools for infants' learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Zack
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC, USA
- Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, University of WashingtonSeattle, WA, USA
| | - Rachel Barr
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC, USA
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32
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Sheehan KJ, Uttal DH. Children's Learning from Touch Screens: A Dual Representation Perspective. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1220. [PMID: 27570516 PMCID: PMC4981688 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Parents and educators often expect that children will learn from touch screen devices, such as during joint e-book reading. Therefore an essential question is whether young children understand that the touch screen can be a symbolic medium – that entities represented on the touch screen can refer to entities in the real world. Research on symbolic development suggests that symbolic understanding requires that children develop dual representational abilities, meaning children need to appreciate that a symbol is an object in itself (i.e., picture of a dog) while also being a representation of something else (i.e., the real dog). Drawing on classic research on symbols and new research on children’s learning from touch screens, we offer the perspective that children’s ability to learn from the touch screen as a symbolic medium depends on the effect of interactivity on children’s developing dual representational abilities. Although previous research on dual representation suggests the interactive nature of the touch screen might make it difficult for young children to use as a symbolic medium, the unique interactive affordances may help alleviate this difficulty. More research needs to investigate how the interactivity of the touch screen affects children’s ability to connect the symbols on the screen to the real world. Given the interactive nature of the touch screen, researchers and educators should consider both the affordances of the touch screen as well as young children’s cognitive abilities when assessing whether young children can learn from it as a symbolic medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J Sheehan
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston IL, USA
| | - David H Uttal
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston IL, USA
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