This study set out to investigate differences in home literacy environments between young children from low-income families and those from common families and patterns of home literacy environments with their cases. It also aimed to examine difference...
This study set out to investigate differences in home literacy environments between young children from low-income families and those from common families and patterns of home literacy environments with their cases. It also aimed to examine differences in language competence between the two groups of young children and relations between home literacy environments and young children's language competence. Based on findings, it would identify which home literacy environments were in shortage among young children from low-income families and provide basic data for searching for ways to support their language development.
For those purposes, the following research questions were set:
1. Is there any difference in home literacy environments
between young children from low-income families
and those from common families?
1-1. What are the patterns of home literacy
environments among young children from low-
income families and those from common families?
2. Is there any difference in language competence
between young children from low-income families and
those from common families?
2-1. Is there any difference in vocabulary between
them?
2-2. Is there any difference in comprehension between
them?
2-3. Is there any difference in expression between
them?
3. Is there any relation between home literacy
environments and young children's language
competence?
3-1. Are home literacy environments related to
language competence among young children from
low-income families?
3-2. Are home literacy environments related to
language competence among young children from
common families?
The study surveyed total 102 young children consisting of three four-year-old classes at K Kindergarten and two four-year-old classes from D Kindergarten from October 28 to November 20, 2009. The two kindergartens were located in Gangseo-gu, Seoul and had young children from low-income families and those from common families at a similar ratio. In addition to those young children, their mothers were also included in the survey, and an in-depth interview was conducted with five mothers from each low-income and common families that participated in the home literacy environment survey in order to investigate the cases of home literacy environment.
As for research tools, the Home Literacy Environment Questionnaire by Park Young-su(1996) was revised and supplemented to fit the study. The Picture Vocabulary Inventory for Young Children by Kim Young-tae, Jang Hye-seong, Lim Seon-suk, and Baek Hyeon-jeong(1995) was used to examine the young children's vocabulary. The inventory developed by Jang Young-ae(1981) to fit young children aged 4 to 6 and revised by Kim Gi-hyeon(2004) was used to examine the young children's comprehension and language expression. The in-depth interview questionnaire about home literacy environment was used during the in-depth interviews.
As for data analysis, t-test was conducted to examine differences in home literacy environment and language competence between young children from low-income families and those from common families. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated and analyzed to examine correlations between home literacy environment and young children's language competence. Analysis was performed with the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. The in-depth interviews with the mothers were recorded with their content in advance. Once finished, the interviews were transcribed, and the transcriptions were repeatedly read and analyzed.
The research findings according to the research questions were as follows:
First, the young children from common families recorded a higher level of home literacy environments than those from low-income families with statistically significant differences between them. The young children from common families recorded higher points in all the subvariables of home literacy environments except for approval of play, namely educational materials, adults' model behavior, play materials, scope of experiences, and language environments, than those from low-income families with statistically significant differences between them.
Five mothers from each of the two groups were interviewed to examine the patterns of home literacy environments among the groups. As a result, the two groups exhibited different patterns. Most of the mothers from low-income families said that they did not provide their children with a rich environment to support their literacy development and had a belief that children should learn how to read and write from their parents or in a systematic manner with the help of institutions and home study materials. Meanwhile, most of the mothers from common families answered that they provided their children with a rich literacy environment including an independent space, diverse materials, chances for discussions, and talks with children after reading children's stories. It was their belief that young children should be allowed to obtain literacy abilities naturally through books fit for their level, play, and outdoor experiences.
Second, the young children from common families recorded higher scores in the subvariables of language competence, namely, vocabulary, comprehension, and expression, than those from low-income families with statistically significant differences between them.
Finally, the subvariables of home literacy environments had significant positive correlations with the subvariables of language competence, namely, vocabulary, comprehension, and expression, among all the young children in the study. The analysis results according to income levels reveal that home literacy environments had significant positive correlations with the subvariables of language competence, namely vocabulary, comprehension, and expression, among the young children from low-income families. To elaborate, play materials had no significant correlations with vocabulary, comprehension, and expression, and language environments had no significant correlations with expression. There were significant positive correlations between all the subvariables of home literacy environments and those of young children's language competence except for those above mentioned. The results were the same with the young children from common families.