Meredith L. Rowe
Child-directed speech: relation to socioeconomic status, knowledge of child development and child vocabulary skill
University of Chicago
abstract study sought determine american parents different socioeconomic backgrounds communicate different ways children fortyseven parentchild dyads videotaped engaging naturalistic interactions home ninety minutes child age 2 6 transcripts interactions provided measures childdirected speech childrens vocabulary comprehension skills measured using peabody picture vocabulary test 2 6 one year later 3 6 results indicate 1 childdirected speech toddlers aged 2 6 predicts child vocabulary skill one year later controlling earlier toddler vocabulary skill 2 childdirected speech relates socioeconomic status measured income education 3 relation socioeconomic status childdirected speech mediated parental knowledge child development potential mechanisms parental knowledge influences communicative behavior discussed