Shyness in Chinese and Canadian Children
Author Information
Author(s): Kong Xiaoxue, MacGowan Taigan L., Wang Shumin, Li Yan, Schmidt Louis A.
Primary Institution: Department of Psychology, University of Northern British Columbia
Hypothesis
Are there differences in shyness-related behaviors between Chinese and Canadian children during a self-presentation speech task?
Conclusion
Chinese children exhibit more gaze aversion and speak less than Canadian children during a speech task.
Supporting Evidence
- Chinese children showed significantly more gaze aversion than Canadian children.
- Chinese children spent less time speaking compared to Canadian children.
- Gender differences in fidgeting and smiling were influenced by cultural norms.
Takeaway
This study looked at how shy kids from China and Canada act when they have to talk about their birthday. It found that kids from China tend to look away more and talk less than kids from Canada.
Methodology
Children were observed during a self-presentation speech task where their shyness-related behaviors were coded.
Potential Biases
Cultural differences in behavior coding may have influenced the results.
Limitations
The study had small sample sizes and could not test for measurement invariance between the two countries.
Participant Demographics
74 Chinese children (77% male) and 189 Canadian children (48.1% male), aged 4-6 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website