To investigate the development of preschoolers' ability to respond appropriately to specific questions 36 children (22 girls and 14 boys, age range 38 to 69 mo.) were videotaped in same-age dyads while they each did 2 jig-saw puzzles. The following question/response sequences were coded from the transcripts of the puzzle sessions: choice questions/choice responses; product questions/product responses; process questions/process responses. Only the oldest children, 5-yr.-olds, consistently responded appropriately to each type of question. Significant relations were detected between each type of question and appropriate response only for the 5-yr.-olds.
References
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DoreJ.Variation in preschool children's conversational performances. In NelsonK. (Ed.), Children's language. Vol. 1. New York: Wiley, 1978. Pp. 397–444.
