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Measuring symbolic play style in infancy: a methodological approach.
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.
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.