Conversational agents for dialogic reading

This dataset contains data collected from a randomized control trial that exmines the effects of storybook reading with conversational agents on children's comprehension and engagement. This study used a two (reading partner as conversational agent vs. adult) by two (dialogic reading vs. non-dialogic reading) factorial design, with participants randomly assigned into one of four conditions. Specifically, we utilized a randomized block design, in which participants in each school site were randomly assigned into an experimental condition. The purpose of such a design is to increase the homogeneity of experimental units, thus reducing experimental errors and increasing the power for detecting treatment factor effects. The four conditions were as follows: 1) Agent Dialogic Reading where the agent narrated the story to a child and engaged the child in dialogue by asking questions and providing feedback; 2) Agent Non-Dialogic Reading where the agent merely narrated the same story to a child ...