Child- vs. adult-directed speech and self-esteem: effects on the task performances, arousal, and future esteem of elderly adults

In a sample of older individuals, the effects of speech type and initial esteem level on performance and subsequent esteem were explored in the present study. Results were inconclusive. Practice effects were found for all subjects, regardless of group membership on all tasks. Speech and Esteem effects were found for the number of errors made on the mirror-tracing task, however, with both Low Esteem subjects and subjects who received Child-Directed Speech making fewer errors than High Esteem subjects and subjects who received Adult-Directed Speech. These results were contrary to what would be predicted by current theory involving child-directed speech. Also, the cardiovascular measures of blood pressure (i.e., systolic and diastolic pressure) and heart rate showed a pattern indicating an anger response or emotion throughout experimental situation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Department dc:contributor.department

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1988

Author dc:creator

• Bunce, Vicki Lynn

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Harrison, David W.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Bohannon, J. Neil
• Franchina, Joseph J.
• Zaccaro, Stephen J.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-04282010-020024

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42353