1. Researched by Lexi Haskins Mentored by Susan McDaniel
Dinnertime Talk
Dinnertime discussion and the behavioral development of children
Researched by Lexi Haskins
Mentored by Susan McDaniel

2. Significant Definition
Behavioral development: focused on communication rules that are prominent later on in the child’s life
Since there are so many behavioral traits that could be studied, I have decided to focus on communication rules. These rules establish what topics are appropriate for discussion and at what times. These vary between certain families, but one example may be “Don’t discuss politics at the table.”
This image shows some of the protocols and rules that are involved in communication rules. These are influenced by day to day conversations, such as the ones that occur around the dinner table.

3. Early Research
Family rituals are a critical part of a child’s communicative development (learn family culture and tradition through rituals). Daily, annual occasions/rituals (more often the ritual, more frequent application of knowledge) have more impact on life habits. Dinnertime captures significant communication between members of the family unit and allows parents to teach communication rules. External factors (such as the presence/absence of technology) should be accounted for as an influence for how children use communication rules later on in their lives
I knew, from discussion with my mentor who specializes is in family communication, that family rituals have a profound impact on how a child learns aspects of their family such as family traditions and culture.
The type of ritual and how often the ritual occurs also affects what the child may learn from the event
Annual occasions (birthdays, christmas) show the child more about the family unit and the traditions they will uphold
However, daily occasions (brushing teeth, dinner, etc.) profoundly influence a child’s development and set them on the path for habits they will carry into their adult life.
These habits and communication rules are developed by the way parents discipline their children during dinnertime. (Parental teachings is the factor that determines this.)
As I thought about this, I realized that technology is an external factor that affects how we communicate face to face and could have an impact on dinnertime rituals and the development of communication rules later on. 1

4. Research Question
How does dinnertime discussion shape the behavioral development, specifically the growth of communication rules, of children in the family? How does today’s technology interfere with the ritual of dinnertime, and what affect does it have on the development of communication rules?
The question I will be researching is “How does dinnertime discussion shape the behavioral development, specifically the growth of communication rules, of children in the family?”
I am also interested in the affect that technology has on these communication rules and skills, considering that it may be an interference in the dinnertime discussion.
The purpose of this research is to analyze and observe how future generation’s communication rules may shift due to the constant presence of technology.

5. Study Methods Surveys (Likert scaling method) Focus groups
Example questions:
How often is technology allowed at dinnertime (cellphones, television, etc.)?
There are topics that are not allowed to be brought up at the dinner table.
If so, list topics.
Survey and focus groups will include children from ages Surveys will be carried out on a Likert-type scale (ranges from strongly disagree to strongly agree, or never to always)
Example Q1- never, rarely, sometimes, very often, always
Example Q2- strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, strongly agree
Questions like the second example question would be analyzed and then discussed in focus groups to further observe the common theme of topics that are not appropriate during dinnertime

6. Expectations
Family rituals have a significant affect on the communicative development of children.1 A daily family ritual such as dinnertime allows for communication and exchange to occur within the family that establishes rules and habits.2 Form ideas about relationship between dinner time discussions and consequential communication rules (strong positive correlation). Technology will hurt the communication rules if present at the dinner table.
Two statements give some background information that has helped me form my predictions on what my observations will be
Due to this background information (and other studies) I will expect to see a strong correlation between dinnertime practices and how the individual's communication rules will form
I also believe I will find that technology will create an interference with the communication and therefore create problems in the individual's understanding of proper communication rules
1 Wolin, S. J., & Bennett, L. A. (1984). Family rituals. Family Process, 23, 401–420.
2 Brumark, Å. (2010). Behavior regulation at the family dinner table. The use of and response to direct and indirect behavior regulation in ten Swedish families. Journal Of Child Language, 37(5),

7. References
Broderick, C. B. (1993) Understanding family process: Basics of family system theory. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. Brumark, Å. (2010). Behavior regulation at the family dinner table. The use of and response to direct and indirect behavior regulation in ten Swedish families. Journal Of Child Language, 37(5), Cramer, J. M., Greene, C. P., & Walters, L. M. (Eds.) Food as communication: Communication as food. New York, NY: Peter Lang. Fiese, B. H., & Marjinsky, K. A. (1999). III. Dinnertime stories: Connecting family practices with relationship beliefs and child adjustment. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 64(2), Fiese, B. H. (2006). Family routines and rituals. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Newman, H. (2016, May 10). Phones at the dinner table: U-M study explores attitudes. Michigan News. Retrieved from m-study-explores-attitudes Wolin, S. J., & Bennett, L. A. (1984). Family rituals. Family Process, 23, 401–420.