Eileen Pfeiffer Flores

Dialogic Reading of a Novel for Children: Effects on Text Comprehension

Estudos experimentais tem demonstrado efeitos positivos da leitura dialogica de livros ilustrados (leitura em voz alta intercalada com prompts e feedback para verbalizacoes por parte do ouvinte) sobre o vocabulario e a expressao verbal de criancas pequenas. Este estudo verificou o efeito da leitura dialogica sobre a compreensao textual de um romance infanto-juvenil por tres criancas de 7-8 anos, utilizando um delineamento de sujeito unico. Na Condicao A, o texto era lido sem intervencoes. Na Condicao B, a leitura era intercalada com intervencoes dialogicas baseadas nas funcoes narrativas presentes no texto. As medidas de compreensao mostraram um desempenho superior na Condicao B para os dois participantes submetidos ao delineamento B-A-B, mas nao para o participante submetido ao delineamento A-B-A. Sao discutidas possiveis interacoes da leitura dialogica com caracteristicas do genero textual e a necessidade de replicacoes sistematicas com um maior numero de sessoes e reversoes das condicoes.Experimental studies have shown positive effects of dialogic reading of picture books (reading aloud interspersed with prompts and feedback for verbalizations by the listener) on the vocabulary and verbal expression of small children. This study assessed the effect of dialogic reading on the comprehension of a childrens novel by three children aged 7-8 years, using a single-subject reversal design. In Condition A, the text was read without intervention. In Condition B, reading was interspersed with dialogic interventions based on narrative functions. Comprehension was superior in all measures in Condition B for the two participants who underwent the B-A-B design, however, not for the participant who underwent the A-B-A design. We discuss possible interactions of dialogic reading with characteristics of text genre and the need for systematic replications with more sessions and reversals of conditions.

O conceito de regra na linguagem cotidiana e na Análise Experimental do Comportamento

The concept of rule in everyday language and in the Experimental Analysis of Behavior . In ordinary language the word rule is used in many different ways, and there is no unique definition which holds good for all of those uses. On the other hand, behavior analysts frequently restrict the concept and define rule technically as “description of contingencies”, a definition first proposed by Skinner in 1969. However, an analysis of Skinner’s texts suggests that they include, parallel to this restriction of the concept, an extension of the ordinary use of the term. The present paper discusses these two opposite movements of conceptual revision and argues that: (1) the extension of the concept may be interesting in that it may point to functional similarities between phenomena that have different names in everyday language, but may also obscure important differences; and (2) the technical restriction of the concept has produced conceptual confusions related to a referencialist view of language. It is concluded that the analysis of the different uses of the term rule in everyday language may contribute positively to theorizing on rule-governed behavior in the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.

Leitura compartilhada em um hospital pediátrico: análise do comportamento verbal dos contadores

Verbal actions of twelve volunteer storytellers at a childrens hospital were observed during 72 episodes of interaction and shared reading with patients. Functional analyses yielded 30 behavioral categories. Inter-rater agreement for three raters was 84.2%. Categories which describe specific verbal behavior in situations of shared reading were grouped into four areas: (a) Tact, textual and intraverbal behavior related to the storybook and/or illustrations; (b) Prompts for verbal behavior; (c) Presentation of consequences for the childs behavior; and (d) Prompts for nonverbal behavior. Results were discussed in light of contingencies related to the storytellers actions in the hospital environment and the potential effects of their interventions on the listeners verbal behavior.