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Master's Thesis (ETD_OZ_6.28).pdf (851.07 KB)

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The Act of Pretending: Play, Executive Function, and Theory of Mind in Early Childhood

Zyga, Olena
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1467391080

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Arts, Case Western Reserve University, Psychology.
The current study examined the relationship between pretend play, theory of mind, and executive function in 50 typically-developing preschool children, ages 3-5 years. Tasks surrounding pretend play, inference and false belief understanding, and those that measured working memory and inhibitory control were administered to participants. Results suggest that pretend play ability did not relate to age or IQ, but EF and ToM performance did. Second, significant associations were found between pretend play, specifically imagination and organization, and ToM ability, as measured by the Hinting task. Further significant associations were found between organizational play ability and EF skill relating to short term/working memory. Follow-up multiple regression analyses revealed that an interaction of both pretend play, as measured by imagination ability, and EF skill, as measured by the digit span backward task, were predictive of ToM performance. Children who are higher in working memory capacity at this age seem to also show better imaginative ability in play. This combination may relate to an increased ability to infer other’s mental states.
Sandra Russ , PhD (Advisor)
Anastasia Dimitropoulos, PhD (Advisor)
Norah Feeny, PhD (Committee Member)
76 p.
Clinical Psychology; Developmental Psychology
Preschool, Executive Function, Theory of Mind, Pretend Play, Child Development

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zyga, O. (2016). The Act of Pretending: Play, Executive Function, and Theory of Mind in Early Childhood [Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1467391080

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zyga, Olena. The Act of Pretending: Play, Executive Function, and Theory of Mind in Early Childhood . 2016. Case Western Reserve University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1467391080.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zyga, Olena. "The Act of Pretending: Play, Executive Function, and Theory of Mind in Early Childhood ." Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1467391080

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1467391080
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.