1-133 - A Window into Diverse Learning: Exploring Cultural Variation in Parent-Child Discussions about Science

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Parents play an important role in the development of children’s engagement with and understanding of scientific content. Yet, relatively little is known about the nature of these interactions in diverse cultural contexts and therefore about how culture may frame children’s informal science learning experiences. This symposium presents observational, experimental and survey data from highly diverse populations, both within and outside of the US, in order to address this open question.

Paper 1 explores cultural variation in the relationship between parent and child scientific talk across multiple different museum sites in the US. Paper 2 extends this work to investigate whether certain instructive practices have benefits for conversations about science among diverse families. Paper 3 takes a broader view on this question and examines the influence of religiosity on parental approaches towards science across three distinct cultures (i.e., US, Iran, China). Finally, the discussant, a leading expert on social learning, reflects on the importance of gaining different cultural perspectives for understanding how children acquire scientific knowledge from others. This research provides an important window into diverse learning styles in the domain of science.

Sub Unit

• Social Cognition

Chair

• Niamh McLoughlin, Boston University

Discussant

• Paul Harris, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Individual Presentations

• Diversity in Parents’ Directive and Scaffolding Conversations with Children in Museums - Presenting Author: Maureen Callanan, University of California, Santa Cruz; Non-Presenting Author: Samantha R McHugh, University of California Santa Cruz; Non-Presenting Author: Emma Burke, University of California, Santa Cruz; Non-Presenting Author: Garrett Jaeger, University of California, Santa Cruz; Non-Presenting Author: Cristine H Legare, University of Texas at Austin; Non-Presenting Author: David Sobel, Brown University

• The Role of Instruction in Latino Families’ Engineering Conversations during a Museum Visit - Presenting Author: Diana I Acosta, Loyola University Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Graciela Solis, Loyola University Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Catherine Haden, Loyola University

• A Cross-Cultural Examination of Parental Approaches towards Science: Evidence from the US, Iran and China - Presenting Author: Ayse Payir, Boston University; Non-Presenting Author: Niamh McLoughlin, Boston University; Non-Presenting Author: Telli Davoodi, Boston University; Non-Presenting Author: Yixin Kelly Cui, Boston University; Non-Presenting Author: Jennifer M. Clegg, Texas State University; Non-Presenting Author: Kathleen Helen Corriveau, Boston University