Communicative Intent Research

Abstract

The Communicatieve Intentie Onderzoek (CIO), which translates to Communication Intention Research, is a specialized observational instrument designed to assess the quality and developmental level of communicative intent in young children. It is specifically targeted at children aged 16 to 29 months, or older children who remain in the pre-verbal phase, particularly when there is suspicion of atypical communication development. The CIO provides critical data points regarding a child’s progress in acquiring language both as a structured system and as a functional means of communication, while also identifying interactional factors that may influence development.

Keywords

Communicatieve Intentie Onderzoek, CIO, communicative intent, early language development, pre-verbal phase, observational assessment, atypical communication, parent-child interaction, speech pathology, young children.

Authors

van der Meulen S, Slofstra-Bremer CF, Lutje Spelberg HC (2012).

Purpose

The primary purpose of the CIO is diagnostic and monitoring in nature. It aims to establish the extent of a child’s language acquisition capabilities, focusing deeply on the underlying communicative intent rather than just explicit verbal output. This is crucial for non-verbal or minimally verbal toddlers for whom standard language assessments are impractical.

Furthermore, the instrument serves to identify specific interactional factors within the parent-child dyad that may either inhibit or stimulate communication progress. By utilizing a standardized observation method, clinicians can track and document longitudinal changes in the child’s communication development, allowing for timely intervention adjustments and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.

Construct

The CIO primarily measures the psychological construct of Communicative Intent. This refers to the conscious desire or goal of an individual to share information, request objects, reject actions, or engage socially with another person, particularly during the period preceding the development of formal language structure. The assessment focuses on both the quality (e.g., complexity and clarity) and the level (e.g., frequency and range) of this intent.

Secondary constructs assessed include early stages of language acquisition, the quality of interpersonal interactions, and general mental functions related to symbolic play and the application of knowledge, as these are intrinsically linked to effective pre-verbal communication skills. The resulting data helps determine how far the child has progressed in acquiring language as a system and as a communication tool.

Validity

Specific details regarding the psychometric properties (Construct, Criterion, or Content Validity) are not provided in the source description. However, as a standardized observational instrument developed in 2012, the CIO would rely on established content validity, ensured by expert consensus regarding the observed behaviors relevant to early communicative milestones.

Given its clinical application in identifying atypical communication development, strong criterion validity, demonstrating correlation with established developmental benchmarks or later language outcomes, would be essential for its utility. The structured, playful investigation setting is a key methodological component designed to elicit naturalistic behaviors, thereby enhancing the validity of the observations made by the researcher.

Reliability

Reliability for the CIO, typical of an observational tool, depends heavily on high inter-rater reliability. This ensures consistency between different researchers when coding the complex, often subtle non-verbal and pre-verbal cues that constitute communicative intent. The standardization of the two play situations—one with the parent and one with the examiner—is intended to minimize situational variability and thus enhance the reliability of the observed behavioral patterns.

Factor Analysis

Specific details regarding exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis for the CIO are not specified in the source content. For instruments that measure complex constructs like communication, factor analysis is typically performed during development to determine if the various observed behaviors cluster into distinct, underlying dimensions related to different types of communication functions (e.g., regulatory functions, interactional functions, or declarative functions).

Instrument

Test Type: Observational Instrument

Format: Structured, standardized observation during two distinct play situations (Parent-Child interaction and Researcher-Child interaction).

Language Available: Dutch (Original language of publication and term: Communicatieve Intentie Onderzoek).

Population Group: Children (Kinderen).

Age Group: 16–29 months, or older children functioning within the pre-verbal phase.

Population Details: Children suspected of atypical communication development or those who are minimally or non-verbal. The instrument is designed to be administered without exerting pressure on the child to communicate.

Test Methodology: The assessment is conducted in a standardized, playful investigation setting designed to elicit spontaneous communication behaviors. The original PDF (Toelichtingsformulier) providing detailed instructions can be downloaded here: Toelichtingsformulier PDF.

Keywords

Child language acquisition, developmental psychology, speech-language pathology, non-verbal communication, early intervention, parent-child dyad, observational assessment, communicative intent.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 2012

Permissions & Fee: Details regarding current licensing, permissions, and associated fees for clinical or research use are not specified in the source content and must be sought directly from the authors or publishing body.

Reference’s

van der Meulen S, Slofstra-Bremer CF, Lutje Spelberg HC. (2012). Communicatieve Intentie Onderzoek (CIO).

Items of the Communicatieve Intentie Onderzoek

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The specific scale items or observable behaviors utilized by the Communicatieve Intentie Onderzoek (CIO) are not detailed within the provided source content. The instrument focuses on observing behaviors related to communication, learning and applying knowledge, mental functions, voice and speech functions, and interpersonal interactions and relationships within the standardized play situations.