Keywords

infant vocalizations, father utterances, father words, contingent responses, mean length of utterances, teaching utterances, transcriptions

Abstract

Data for this study were derived from videotapes of 26 father-infant dyads, specifically from a five minute period of free-play. The first step was the creation of a literal transcription of the father-infant dyads interaction. Subsequently, nine variables of fathers' language characteristics and one infant characteristic were coded employing the literal transcriptions and observing the videotapes. The fathers' language variables were number of : (1) father utterances, (2) father words, (3) father contingent responses, (4) father teaching utterances, (5) father descriptive teaching utterances, (6) father directive teaching utterances - making commands, (7) father directive teaching utterance - asking questions, (8) percentage of father teaching utterances, and (9) mean length of father utterances (MLU). The infant variable was number of vocalizations. Eight out of the nine variables were positively correlated to infant vocalizations, indicating the importance of fathers input in child language development. The only negative correlation in the present study was between Mean Length of Utterance (MLU) and infant vocalizations and the possible reasons are discussed. The findings support the idea that there are positive relationships between fathers' language characteristics and infant vocalizations. Recommendations are made that fathers should be involved in early intervention programs.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2010

Advisor

Culp, Rex

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Education

Department

Child, Family, and Community Sciences

Degree Program

Early Childhood Development and Education

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0003229

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0003229

Language

English

Release Date

July 2015

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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