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Strategies used to communicate route directions by telephone: a comparison of the performance of 7-year-olds, 10-year-olds and adults*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2009

Peter Lloyd
Peter Lloyd*
Affiliation:
University of Manchester
*
Department of Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
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Abstract

Standard outcome measures used in a referential communication (route finding) task showed that 7-year-olds were inferior to 10-year-olds and adults in terms of adequacy of messages provided (as speakers) and selection of referent (as listeners). Because the task involved negotiation of route directions by telephone, a richer dialogue resulted than is usual in referential communication studies. This made possible an analysis of the strategies used and revealed differences untapped by the standard measures. The types of strategies used (COMPONENTS, NUMBERING, DIRECTIONAL, MINIMAL) varied as a function of age, with the adults using much directional information and the children very little. Much of the younger children's description was either minimal or used inadequately specified mature strategies. Adults frequently used dual strategies (e.g. directional + numbering). Older children showed little evidence of these individually but achieved them, in practice, through dialogue with their partners. Age differences in quantity of communication (number of turns) were found to be linked to strategy use. The advantages of the telephone as an experimental medium of communication are discussed.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , February 1991 , pp. 171 - 189
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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Footnotes

*

The help of Elena Lieven and Carole McCaffrey, who were involved in the planning and execution of this research, is gratefully acknowledged. I also wish to acknowledge the cooperation of the pupils and staff of Wadeson Road Primary School.

References

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