Poster #36 - How Does Media Language Impact Language Outcomes in 3-5 Year-Olds from Spanish Speaking Homes?

• In Event: Poster Session 19

Abstract

Although there is consistent data showing that increased exposure to media is related to lower language outcomes in children, many families, especially those who do not speak the dominate language of the country, see strong potential benefits of television for their children’s language development. There is reason to believe this could be the case, as co-watching TV can have positive effects on children’s language. Because most research is on monolingual English speakers and focuses on media exposure regardless of the language of the media, this assumption has not been tested. The goal of this study is to examine the relationship between language development (Spanish and English) and TV/media exposure (Spanish and English) in young children from Spanish-dominate homes as well as identify potential mediating factors. To address this question, 25 three-to-five-year-old's from Spanish dominant homes will complete the Quick Interactive Language Screener: English and Spanish (QUILS:ES) and participate in home language sampling (i.e., audio recording of the child’s home language environment for approximately 16 hours a day for two days). Home audio recordings will then be analyzed to identify the amount of TV/electronic media exposure in specific languages (i.e., English, Spanish, Other) and quantity and quality of interactions in the home language environment (quantity of child directed language and conversational turns). Consistent with other findings, we predict conversational turns will mediate the link between media exposure and vocabulary in young children from Spanish-speaking homes. Previous literature indicates media exposure needs to be scaffolded by parents to have a positive impact on child language development, thus we hypothesize exposure to media in Spanish will be correlated to higher Spanish-language outcomes. In contrast, we predict that increased English exposure to media will not correlate to higher language learning outcomes in English. We theorize that families would be able to discuss the Spanish media with the child thus leading to higher vocabulary and language outcomes. To analyze the data, we will run two regression analyses, both controlling for self-reported Spanish language use in the home (i.e., Always Spanish, Mostly Spanish, Equal use of Spanish/English, etc.) and conversational-turns. The first regression analysis will assess the degree to which the language of media (Spanish/English) affects vocabulary and the second will assess the degree to which the language of media (Spanish/English) affects language learning abilities. Given Spanish dominant parents often expose their children to English media in an effort to improve the children’s English language skills (Cycyk and Hammer, 2020), this study’s findings are critical to determine the efficacy of doing so. Additionally, the findings may provide insight into future recommendations for media consumption in young children.

Authors

• Kathleen Denicola-Prechtl, University of Texas at Dallas
  Presenting Author

• Carlos Benitez-Barrera, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Mandy J Maguire, University of Texas at Dallas