Dialogue with a conversational agent promotes children's story comprehension via enhancing engagement. Issue 2 (8th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Ying; Aubele, Joseph; Vigil, Valery; Bustamante, Andres S.; Kim, Young‐Suk; Warschauer, Mark
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 93:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: e149
• Page End: e167
• Publication Date: 2021-11-08
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13708
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract: Dialogic reading, when children are read a storybook and engaged in relevant conversation, is a powerful strategy for fostering language development. With the development of artificial intelligence, conversational agents can engage children in elements of dialogic reading. This study examined whether a conversational agent can improve children's story comprehension and engagement, as compared to an adult reading partner. Using a 2 (dialogic reading or non‐dialogic reading) × 2 (agent or human) factorial design, a total of 117 three‐ to six‐year‐olds (50% Female, 37% White, 31% Asian, 21% multi‐ethnic) were randomly assigned into one of the four conditions. Results revealed that a conversational agent can replicate the benefits of dialogic reading with a human partner by enhancing children's narrative‐relevant vocalizations, reducing irrelevant vocalizations, and improving story comprehension.