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Measuring symbolic play style in infancy: a methodological approach.

W E Dixon¹, C Shore

¹Department of Psychology, Miami University.

The Journal of Genetic Psychology

|June 11, 1991

Summary

This study explored symbolic play styles in children, identifying key measures for "dramatist" play that remain consistent over time and are independent of developmental level.

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Area of Science:

Developmental Psychology
Child Behavior Studies

Background:

Symbolic play is a key aspect of child development.
Previous research has categorized children's play styles, but a dimensional approach is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine symbolic play style as a measurable dimension.
To identify reliable indicators of the "dramatist" play style.
To assess the independence of play style from general developmental level.

Main Methods:

Longitudinal study of 30 children (15 boys, 15 girls) observed twice, 6 weeks apart, starting at 21 months.
Quantitative analysis of various play behaviors to identify consistent measures.
Correlational analysis to assess construct validity and developmental independence.

Main Results:

While correlation patterns varied slightly between observations, three measures consistently indicated "dramatist" play: narrative vocalizations, spontaneous play, and elicited-appropriate play.
These findings support the conceptualization of play style as a measurable dimension.

Conclusions:

Symbolic play style, specifically the "dramatist" dimension, can be reliably measured over time.
Identified play behaviors provide a foundation for quantitative analysis of developmental differences in play.

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