3, 5세 유아의 실행기능과 언어능력의 관계

Abstract

The aims of this study are to investigate the differences of the preschoolers' executive function and verbal ability according to their age, and to identify whether the preschoolers' executive function is related to their verbal ability. The participants in this study are 151 children, ages 3-and 5-years old from five child-care centers located in a middle-income region of Seoul. Statistical methods used for the data analysis are the frequencies, means, standard deviations, an independent t-test, and Pearson correlation. The major findings are as follows. First, an age difference is found for children's executive function. The 5-year-olds are more likely to succeed on tasks of executive function than the 3-year-olds. Also, age difference is found for children's verbal ability. The 5-year-olds perform better on tests of verbal ability than the 3-year-olds. Last, the 3-year-olds' and 5-year-olds' executive function is related to their verbal ability. Inhibition and cognitive flexibility are significantly correlated with verbal ability. These results suggest that preschoolers' executive function and verbal ability develop during preschool age. These results also suggest that preschoolers' executive function is related to their verbal ability.