Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between age, internal state information, and narrative structure. Another purpose was to examine how the kinds of replica play and story props affect the theme of children's narratives. The subjects were 36 4-and 5-year-olds. Children's n...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between age, internal state information, and narrative structure. Another purpose was to examine how the kinds of replica play and story props affect the theme of children's narratives. The subjects were 36 4-and 5-year-olds. Children's narratives were audiotaped and analyzed accordmg to narrative structure, themes and internal state factors. The results indicated that 5-year-olds showed well organized narrative structure such as a descriptive narrative and a primary plotted narrative whereas 4-year-old presented no response and a descriptive narrative. Also, 5-year-olds used more internal state information in the narratives than 4-year-olds. The replica figures serve to remind the chiidren of story themes: the children with police props presented negative themes while children with playground props showed positive themes.