| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 359875 | Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology | 2013 | 6 Pages |
Children's television programming frequently uses interactive characters that appear to directly engage the viewers. These characters encourage children to answer questions and perform actions to help the characters solve problems in the televised world. Children readily engage in these interactions; however, it is unclear why they do so. To investigate this issue, 53 5-, 7-, and 9-year-olds made decisions about events occurring in the real world based on information provided by a live individual and by a televised interactive computer-generated character. Five-year-olds followed the advice of both the live individual and the televised computer-generated character, whereas 7- and 9-year-olds only followed the advice of the live individual. Results are discussed in terms of a transition from children believing that interactive televised characters can engage in a real communicative interaction to children understanding that this apparent interaction is an illusion.
► Explores why children engage in audience participation while watching television ► Children solved a task by listening to a live individual and a cartoon individual. ► 5-year-olds listened to both and 7- to 9-year-olds only listened to the live. ► 5-year-olds may believe that interactive cartoon characters can see and hear them. ► By 7 years, children suspend their disbelief while viewing interactive programs.
