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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
Published on: April 28, 2016
Structural development of the fictional narratives of African American preschoolers
Johanna R Price1, Joanne E Roberts, Sandra C Jackson
1Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8180, USA. price@mail.fpg.unc
Purpose:
This study examined the structural development of African American preschoolers' narratives. It also investigated the effect of background variables (e.g., gender, maternal education, stimulation and responsiveness of the home environment, and whether or not the child lived in poverty) on the children's narratives.
Method:
Sixty-five children completed a story-retelling task at age 4 and again at kindergarten entry. Narratives were then coded for story grammar elements.
Results:
Four-year-olds narrated some attempts to solve the problem and some elements of the story ending. At kindergarten entry, children had higher total narrative scores and included more of every type of story grammar element except relationship. Overall, narratives were not related to background variables.
Clinical Implications:
The Bus Story Language Test (C. Renfrew, 1991) appears to be an assessment tool that is sensitive to structural growth in African American children's narratives from 4 years to kindergarten entry.
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