ERIC Number: EJ1256741
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1547-5441
EISSN: N/A
Gesturers Tell a Story Creatively; Non-Gesturers Tell It Like It Happened
Laurent, Angélique; Smithson, Lisa; Nicoladis, Elena
Language Learning and Development, v16 n3 p292-308 2020
Previous research has shown that using gestures helps children remember more information. Here, we designed two studies to test whether children who gesture tend to rely on visuospatial cognitive resources more than children who do not gesture. We also test whether children who gesture demonstrate more creativity in their narrative productions. Preschool children watched a cartoon and then were asked to tell back the story of the cartoon. In the first study, some children were asked to tell the story with gestures constrained while others could move their hands if they chose. Children who did not spontaneously gesture told shorter stories than children who gestured. The sequencing of story events was significantly closer to the original among the Non-Gesturers than among children whose gestures were constrained. In the follow-up study, Non-Gesturers again told shorter stories than Gesturers. Moreover, Non-Gesturers' story length was positively correlated with both verbal and visuospatial short-term memory. Overall, these results suggest that, when retelling narratives, preschoolers who gesture may be relying upon visuospatial cognitive resources to a greater extent and show a tendency to incorporate more creativity into their narratives compared to preschoolers who did not spontaneously gesture.
Descriptors: Nonverbal Communication, Story Telling, Creativity, Preschool Children, Cartoons, Short Term Memory, Spatial Ability, Cognitive Processes, Foreign Countries, Word Frequency, Intelligence Tests, Verbal Ability, Vocabulary
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada (Edmonton)
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A