Work

Dialogue with a conversational agent promotes children’s story comprehension via enhancing engagement

Year: 2021

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

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.

Source: Child Development

DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13708

Authors: Ying Xu, Joseph Aubele, Valery Vigil, Andres S Bustamante, Young-Suk Kim, Mark Warschauer

Institution: University of California, Irvine

Language: English

Topic: Language Development and Disorders

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,300