Date of Graduation

Summer 2020

Degree

Master of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Michael Clayton

Abstract

Reading to children is one way to engage a child in high-level conversations that go beyond the explicit message of the book. There is a positive correlation between the amount of high-quality caregiver/child joint attention activities and language development. The purpose of this study was to use Behavior Skills Training to teach parents seven component reading skills in order to increase parents word count and quality of words read during read-alouds with their children. Results showed as parents mastered the seven reading components they increased their overall word count. Implications of these findings are discussed within the context of caregiver/child joint attention activities and suggest that caregivers who use higher word counts while reading can increase their child’s overall language development.

Keywords

Behavior Skills Training, Starling Word Pedometer, language development, WH-questions, joint attention

Subject Categories

Applied Behavior Analysis | Applied Linguistics | Cognition and Perception | Early Childhood Education | Education | Educational Psychology | Elementary Education | Organization Development | Other Linguistics

Copyright

© Britnea Monaco

Open Access

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