Do Japanese children say yes to their mothers? A naturalistic study of response bias in parent- toddler conversations Mako Okanda (Kyoto University) Shoji Itakura (Kyoto University) photocred:erichedelic 1 2 Introduction Understanding childrens responses Is there a response bias? Is there a yes bias? Findings are inconsistent. Because variables are not controlled. I dont know and no answer responses 1.Do (Japanese) children show a yes bias in response to yes-no questions to their mothers in daily situations (versus an experimental situation)? 2.Do Japanese children give the no answer or I dont know responses to their own mothers? 3 Research Questions 4 38 Japanese children: 20 two-year-olds (10 boys, 10 girls) 18 three-year-olds (12 boys, 6 girls) Participants 5 SettingAge Cultural background Type of questions Familiarity Kinds of entities Variables of this study Non-experimental 2-3 years old Japanese Is this ___? 3 fam. v.s. 3 unfam. Actual objects 6 The mothers received an instruction paper, the objects, an answer sheet, an example answer sheet, an envelope, and a consent document. The mothers conducted the experiment when at home alone with her children. The mothers asked 4 questions for each subject. The order of question is printed on the answer sheet. Either (fam > unfam > fam > unfam > fam > unfam) or (unfam > fam > unfam > fam > unfam > fam) The mothers recorded the answers (verbal and nonverbal), then sent the data back to the researchers. Procedure 7 8 9 Questions that yes is the right answer: Yes response = +1 No response = -1 Scoring Questions that no is the right answer: No response = +1 Yes response = -1 Yes-scoreNo-score 10 Scoring Yes-scoreNo-score total numbers of questions that yes is the right answer total numbers of questions that no is the right answer proportional yes-score proportional no-score 11 Scoring proportional yes-score proportional no-score - = Response bias score (-1~+1) 12 13 A yes bias was shown among 2- to 3-year-old Japanese children to their mothers (3-year-olds bias is less than 2- year-olds). Taken this data with previous studies done in an experimental setting (Okanda & Itakura), it suggests that Japanese children aging from 2 to 3 show a strong yes bias regardless of the interviewer. Fritzley & Lee obtained similar findings with north American children in Discussion concerning yes/no 14 A yes bias is a rather common phenomenon, not restricted to specific contexts or cultures, indicating a broader cognitive response bias. Affirmation could be a dominant response that children do not/cannot inhibit. Conclusion concerning yes/no 15 Discussion concerning idk 16 17 No answer' and I dont know responses are given to their own mothers, as well as to strangers in the Japanese culture. According to previous studies, Western children are more reluctant to give the I dont know response. Discussion concerning idk 18 Reason = Cultural norm? Western cultures emphasize self-confidence and self-esteem. Japanese (& Chinese) culture emphasizes modesty. Conclusion concerning idk 19 In conclusion Thank you