Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1999

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Human Development, Consumer and Family Sciences

Abstract

The primary intention of this study was to identify the possible relationships existing between temperament and social play behavior among 4- and 5-year-old children, and to identify possible relationships between the temperament ratings of parents and teachers. The participants included 27 children enrolled in 2 different preschool classes at a midwestem university's early childhood education facility, their parents, and 2 preschool faculty members. Temperament and demographic data were obtained from parents using the 23-item Parent Temperament Questionnaire. Temperament data were obtained from the 2 faculty using the Teacher Temperament Questionnaire. Social play data were obtained during indoor free play. The data indicated that there were no statistically significant relationships between faculty ratings of temperament and social play behavior in the preschool environment. Furthermore, parents and faculty agreed on only one of the six temperament subscales common to both questionnaires, approach/withdrawal. One possible interpretation is that some aspects of temperament are exhibited differently in different environments. In addition to small sample size, the effects of several nuisance variables contributed to the lack of statistically significant findings.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Preschool children -- Psychology Temperament in children Social interaction in children Play

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

135

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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