Visual signals and children's communication: Negative effects on task outcome

Previous research has found that young children fail to adapt to audio-only interaction (e.g. Doherty-Sneddon & Kent, 1996), and perform difficult com munication tasks better face-to-face. In this study, children aged 6 and 10 years old were compared in face-to-face and audio-only interaction. A prob lem-solving communication task involving description of abstract stimuli wa s employed. When describing the abstract stimuli both groups of children sh owed evidence of face-to-face interference rather than facilitation. It is concluded that, contrary to previous research, for some communication tasks access to visual signals (such as facial expression and eye gaze) may hind er rather than help children's communication.