Interpersonnal Problem-Solving Strategies of Preschoolers

학령전 아동의 대인간 문제해결 능력에 관한 연구

The purpose of the present study was to investigate children's interpersonal problem solving strategies. Specifically, the number and categories of interpersonal problem solving strategies were examined by age, sex, and source of problem (friends or mother). The subjects were eighty 4,-and 6-year-old boys and girls. The instrument was based on Shure and Spivack's (1974) Preschool Interpersonal Problem Solving (PIPS) test. The test was administered to the children individually in the preschool setting. The data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA, frequency, percentage, and Kendall's Tau. The results showed that the older children had higher PIPS scores; that is, the 6-year-olds suggested more alternative problem solving strategies than 4-year-olds. Children suggested more alternate strategies and different strategies for solving problems with friends compared to solving problems with mothers.