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Nicole_Dissertation_04_24.pdf (2.43 MB)

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The referent can obscure performance: Requiring young children to use their own bodies impedes their use of 2D human line drawings as self-representations

Lytle, Nicole E.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1437414098

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Psychology - Experimental.
In clinical and forensic practice, professionals often use dolls and human figure drawings (HFDs) to question young children about touch events. These professionals assume children understand the representational nature of the props. However, recent work has shown even 5-year-olds make some errors when using props to show touch occurring on them. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether requiring children to use their own bodies impeded their performance in showing touches when using drawings and dolls as representations. Children’s use of 2D line drawings and 3D objects (i.e., scale models and dolls) as symbols was assessed on three tasks. All children used the symbols to show touch occurring on their own bodies, touch occurring on another person’s body, and to guide their search for a hidden object. For all tasks, children’s performance improved with age; however, even 5-year-olds made some errors showing touch locations. Findings revealed that asking children to use their own bodies did affect their accuracy in using dolls and drawings as symbols. When asked to show touch locations on another person, children’s performance was intermediate to the other two tasks. Children demonstrated improved performance in showing touch locations on another person as compared to their own bodies. However, this finding was qualified by a significant interaction. Children made the most errors when asked to use 2D drawings to show touch locations that occurred on their own bodies as compared to any other task/symbol combination. Forensic applications and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.
Kamala London-Newton (Committee Chair)
Andrew Geers (Committee Member)
Rickye Heffner (Committee Member)
Jason Rose (Committee Member)
Jerry Van Hoy (Committee Member)
52 p.
Experimental Psychology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lytle, N. E. (2015). The referent can obscure performance: Requiring young children to use their own bodies impedes their use of 2D human line drawings as self-representations [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1437414098

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lytle, Nicole. The referent can obscure performance: Requiring young children to use their own bodies impedes their use of 2D human line drawings as self-representations. 2015. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1437414098.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lytle, Nicole. "The referent can obscure performance: Requiring young children to use their own bodies impedes their use of 2D human line drawings as self-representations." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1437414098

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1437414098
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© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.