Measuring young U.S. children’s parasocial relationships: toward the creation of a child self-report survey

Richards, Melissa N.; Calvert, Sandra L.

doi:10.1080/17482798.2017.1304969

Cited by 24 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…In a room at their child‐care center, a trained experimenter administered the attachment and friendship Child PSR Scale (Richards & Calvert, ) with Dora as the character. Next, the child played the intelligent character game while the same experimenter sat beside the child to assist if needed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Factor analyses of 3‐to‐6‐year‐old children’s reports about their favorite characters yielded similar dimensions as those of their parents (Richards & Calvert, ). For children, the only factor with acceptable levels of internal consistency was attachment and friendship , which consisted of a favorite character who was a trustworthy, safe, cute, friend , with Dora the Explorer emerging as the most frequent favorite character (Richards & Calvert, ).…”

Section: Social Meaningfulness Parasocial Relationships and Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Young Children’s Mathematical Learning From Intelligent Characters

et al. 2019

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Children’s math learning (N = 217; Mage = 4.87 years; 63% European American, 96% college‐educated families) from an intelligent character game was examined via social meaningfulness (parasocial relationships [PSRs]) and social contingency (parasocial interactions, e.g., math talk). In three studies (data collected in the DC area: 12/2015–10/2017), children’s parasocial relationships and math talk with the intelligent character predicted quicker, more accurate math responses during virtual game play. Children performed better on a math transfer task with physical objects when exposed to an embodied character (Study 2), and when the character used socially contingent replies, which was mediated by math talk (Study 3). Results suggest that children’s parasocial relationships and parasocial interactions with intelligent characters provide new frontiers for 21st century learning.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Social Meaningfulness Parasocial Relationships and Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young Children’s Mathematical Learning From Intelligent Characters

et al. 2019

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“…Similarly, Richards and Calvert (2016) found that attractiveness loaded onto a separate factor for parent reports of their children's PSRs; however, parents were not asked all items that were in the original survey. In child report measures, character cuteness loaded onto a factor of attachment and friendship, suggesting that physical attractiveness might be an integral part of children's experiences with their favorite media characters, particularly for girls (Richards & Calvert, 2017).…”

Section: Dimensions Of Young Children's Psrsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parents’ Perceptions of Their Children’s Parasocial Relationships: The Recontact Study

Aguiar

Richards

Bond

et al. 2018

Imagination, Cognition and Personality

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Parent report measures indicate that young children's parasocial relationships (PSRs) are multidimensional constructs consisting of dimensions such as social realism, attachment and character personification, and human-like needs. However, little is known about how parent perceptions of these dimensions evolve as children mature and form new PSRs. In this 3-year follow-up study, parents (N ¼ 156) from two previous studies were recontacted, and they provided updated information about their children's PSRs in an online questionnaire. A principal components analysis revealed that the dimensions of social realism, attachment and character personification, and human-like needs reemerged when children were approximately 6-to 8-years-old and had formed new or retained previous relationships with favorite media characters. A new dimension of character qualities also emerged, paralleling the developmental changes that occur in children's real friendships. These results clarify parent reports of the dimensions that comprise children's PSRs and provide

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“…Reflecting this cultural stereotype, a content analysis found strong emphasis on physical appearance for female characters compared with male characters in media directed toward older children (Gerding & Signorielli, 2014). Characters that are perceived as cute are also a facet of young children's PSRs, particularly for young girls (Richards & Calvert, 2017).…”

Section: Psrs and Gender Socializationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Children’s Parasocial Breakups With Media Characters From the Perspective of the Parent

Aguiar

Richards

Bond

et al. 2018

Imagination, Cognition and Personality

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Children's parasocial relationships (PSRs) with media characters end through a process called PSR breakups. An online parent report measure was used to describe preschool and school-aged children's breakups with media characters, as well as the attributes of past and current favorite characters. According to parents (N ¼ 138), 51% of children experienced PSR breakups. PSRs lasted about two years before a breakup occurred. Past and current favorite characters were animated, human-like, and embedded in fantastical content. Current favorite characters taught fewer academic lessons than past favorite characters. Both boys and girls had current favorite characters that were more gendered in their physical appearance than past favorite characters. However, girls' current favorite characters had more masculine traits than past favorite characters. Our findings suggest possible avenues for the design of future media characters that can teach as they entertain.

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Measuring young U.S. children’s parasocial relationships: toward the creation of a child self-report survey

Cited by 24 publications

References 18 publications

Young Children’s Mathematical Learning From Intelligent Characters

Young Children’s Mathematical Learning From Intelligent Characters

Parents’ Perceptions of Their Children’s Parasocial Relationships: The Recontact Study

Children’s Parasocial Breakups With Media Characters From the Perspective of the Parent

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