Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
Published on: April 28, 2016
The role of illustrations in children's inferential comprehension
Meredith M Pike1, Marcia A Barnes, Roderick W Barron
1Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
Abstract:
Illustrations are a salient source of information in children's books, yet their effect on children's reading comprehension has been studied only through literal factual recall. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of illustrations on bridging inferences, an important aspect of meaning making in comprehension models. Identical short stories were presented under different illustration conditions with pictures that represented different parts of the story. Participants were 73 7- to 11-year-olds. Illustrations both facilitated and interfered with inferencing depending on the type of information depicted; however, this effect was reduced as grade increased. Additional findings were that the overall ability to make inferences increased with age and working memory was a significant predictor of this skill. Results are discussed in relation to cognitive and developmental models of comprehension.
Related Concept Videos
Inductive Reasoning
Piaget's Stage 2 of Cognitive Development
Data Validation
Nursing assessment guides are generally based on holistic models rather than medical...
Graphical Representation of Inequalities
Solving Inequalities Graphically
What are Estimates?
The estimate for the mean of a sample is denoted by ͞x, whereas the mean of the population is designated as μ. Further, parameters such as the mean,...

