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Competence and talent in verbal riddle comprehension

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Barbara Fowles  and
Marcia E. Glanz
Barbara Fowles
Affiliation:
Children's Televsion Workshop, New York
Marcia E. Glanz
Affiliation:
Children's Televsion Workshop, New York
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Abstract

Children in grades 1–3 (ages 6–9) were asked to retell and explain a series of riddles. The scoring system was developed to differentiate levels of competence. Ability to recall riddles was not found to be predictive of ability to explain them. Three cognitive factors seemed to determine level of riddle competence. Level of competence was NOT clearly related to age. Analysis of riddles yields descriptive attributes that distinguish easy from difficult riddles. Implications concern the relationship of riddle competence to reading ability and metalinguistic facility.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , October 1977 , pp. 433 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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