Responses to hotspots during parent–child shared reading of eBook

Publication date: Available online 28 December 2019Source: International Journal of Child-Computer InteractionAuthor(s): Soaad M. AbdelhadiAbstractThis research aimed to investigate the impact of eBook design on parents-preschooler dyads’ responses to hotspots (clickable locations on the screen that activate animations and/or sounds) during shared reading of mathematics-related eBooks. Two eBooks were designed and compared. Hotspots in the math eBook condition guided joint attention to mathematically-related activated features; while hotspots in the emotion-action eBook condition guided joint attention to emotions and actions of the characters. The hotspots were matched in number and type across both eBooks. The narrative and illustrations remained consistent between the two eBooks.Thirty-two parent-preschooler dyads participated in this study; 16 in each condition; by reading the entire eBook. Findings showed that parents in the math condition responded to hotspots by asking high-level cognitive questions, and both parents and children in this condition reacted mostly by repeating what was heard. In the emotion-action condition, dyads reacted emotively to the hotspots; laughter was the most common response. Findings from this research raise implications for the future designs of children eBooks; particularly regarding the content of the hotspots.
Source: International Journal of Child Computer Interaction - Category: Child Development Source Type: research