Examination of the effect of perspective-taking skills of six-year-old children on their social competences

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to reveal the effect of perspective-taking skills of six-year-old children on their social competences. Determined by two independent kindergartens at Yenişehir district in Mersin as study groups, 115 children (59 girls, 56 boys) in the age group of 6, constituted the study group of the study. In order to reveal the predictor effect of perspective-taking skill on level of social competence, the technique of simple linear regression analysis was used in the data analysis. According to the results, the cognitive perspective-taking skill of six-year-old children predicted variables of entering a peer group, reaction to provocation, teacher expectations, and reactive aggression in a statistically significant manner. However, the cognitive perspective-taking skill of six-year-old children did not predict variables of reaction to failure, reaction to success, social expectations, and proactive aggression in a statistically significant manner. In addition, perceptual and affective perspective-taking skills did not predict the variables of entering a peer group, reaction to provocation, reaction to failure, reaction to success, social expectations, teacher expectations, reactive aggression, and proactive aggression in a statistically significant manner.

KEYWORDS:

• Perspective-taking skills
• social competences
• preschool period

Acknowledgements

This research was presented in International Congress on Education for the Future: Issues and Challenges (ICEFIC 2015, 13–15 May 2015, Ankara University) as an oral presentation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Hülya Gülay Ogelman is an associate professor at the Department of Preschool Education, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. Her research interests include social skills, peer relationships, environmental education, and resiliency in early childhood. Some of her articles have been published in the following journals: Early Education and Development, European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, Early Child Education Journal, Death Studies, Education: 3-13, Journal of Research in Education, Educational Research and Reviews, Social Behavior and Personality, Early Child Development and Care, Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, and Education. Some of her books include: Social skills in preschool period (PegemA Publishing, 2009), Peer relationships in preschool period (PegemA Publishing, 2010), and Earthquake awareness program in early childhood (Egiten Kitap, 2012).

Vuslat Oğuz is an assistant professor at the Department of Preschool Education, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey. Her research interests include problem-solving skills, empathy, perspective taking, social skills, self-respect, Montessori approach, project approach, and child development and education. Some of her articles have been published in the following journals: Perceptual and Motor Skills, International Journal of Social Sciences and Education, Electronic International Journal of Education, Arts, and Science, Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanity and Social Sciences Journal, and Journal of Qafqaz University (Social Science). Her book include: Project approach in early childhood (Anı Publishing, 2014).

Özlem Körükçü is an assistant professor at the Healthcare Services Vocational School, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. Her research interests include empathy, self-esteem, and academic self-esteem. Some of her articles have been published in the following journals: Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences (An Analysis of Self-esteem Levels and Parental attitudes of the students attending child development program, 2010); International Congress on Early childhood Education, Abstract Book (The relationships between mother’s perfectionism and five years old children’s academic self-esteem, 2012); and International Journal of Social Sciences and Education (An Investigation of empathic skills of children and parents, 2013).

Aysel Köksal Akyol is a professor at the Department of Child Development, Ankara University, Ankara. Her research interests include child development, early childhood education, creative drama, education in museum, Montessori approach, and project approach. Some of her articles have been published in the following journals: Perceptual and Motor Skills, Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, Anthropologist, Education and Science, Humanity and Social Sciences Journal, Bulgarian Journal of Science and Education Policy, and International Journal of Educational Reform (IJER). Some of her books include: Project approach in early childhood education (Anı Publishing, 2014) and Drama activities in early childhood education (Oluşum Publishing, 2007).