Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Abstract
Researchers examined whether contingent experience using a touchscreen increased toddlers’ ability to learn a word from video. One-hundred-sixteen children (24-36 mos) watched an on-screen actress label an object: (1) without interacting, (2) with instructions to touch anywhere on the screen, or (3) with instructions to touch a specific spot (location of labeled object). The youngest children learned from contingent video in the absence of reciprocal interactions with a live social partner, but only when contingent video required specific responses that emphasized important information on the screen. Conversely, this condition appeared to disrupt learning by slightly older children who were otherwise able to learn words by passively viewing non-interactive video. Results are interpreted with respect to selective attention and encoding.
Recommended Citation
Kirkorian, H. L., Choi, K., & Pempek, T. A. (2016). Toddlers’ word learning from contingent and noncontingent video on touchscreens. Child Development, 87, 405-413., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12508.