The impact of dynamic social networks on communication skills
Communication skills are at the very core of society; they allow us to interact and are vital for wellbeing. Both infants and adults develop better communicative skills if they receive more varied linguistic input, such as speech from more individuals. Additionally, larger social networks are associated with better communication skills even among adult native speakers, suggesting that input variability is important for maintenance, not just acquisition.
Prior research has considered an individuals’ social network as static, but it is important that we seek to understand the impact of social network changes on communication skills; especially considering that such changes often occur alongside major life events that increase vulnerability – such as retirement or widowhood.
Following retirement, our social network changes in ways that reduce input variability. For example, distant contacts are replaced by close family members. Our first study will collect real world data in order to provide ecologically valid evidence of relationships between changes to social network properties and communication skills in retirees. Our second and third studies will test experimentally the effect of social network changes on communication skills, providing causal evidence for the results of our first study.
The implications of such research address SEDarc’s theme of “Healthy, Thriving Communities”. The project examines a potential risk factor for the elderly and provides insights on who is most at risk and how to minimise it. The project also has implications for language interventions, at all ages, by examining whether the benefits of short-term changes to input can be maintained.