Role of Causal Relationships in the Story Comprehension of Children
Harper, Cheryl M.
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/71913
Description
Title
Role of Causal Relationships in the Story Comprehension of Children
Author(s)
Harper, Cheryl M.
Issue Date
1990
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Education, Language and Literature
Education, Educational Psychology
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the role of causal relationships in the comprehension of stories by children using a model for comprehending events as causal relationships (Trabasso, Secco, van den Broek, 1983). Although causal relations play a role in earlier story grammars, this causal model differs in its establishment of explicit and logical criteria for determining causal relations between events in the story. It also allows for the use of multi-episodic texts. This study extends the causal model to natural texts, and examines children's on-line processing during comprehension. Grimm's folktales, translated by Wanda Gag (1936), were used. A causal network of events has been developed for each folktale, using the Trabasso et al. model. Subjects included 12 third grade and 12 sixth grade students. On-line processing was measured at intervals during reading by the children's listing of events and prediction of future events. Data from immediate and one-week delayed recalls was collected, as well as from a debriefing after the story reading to determine at what point children are more willing to make predictions.
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