Negotiation skills of children with specific language impairment

This study examined the ability of 6 children with specific language impairment (SLI), ages 8;10 to 12;5 (yr; mon) to participate in a negotiation sequence with 2 some-age peers in triadic interactions. Negotiation sequences were analyzed using a system based on Selman's interpersonal negotiation strategies (INS) model (Selman, 1981). The negotiation skills of children with SLI were compared to those of 6 children matched for chronological age (CA) and 6 children of similar language (LS) abilities, participating in the same task. Children with SLI did nor produce significantly fewer utterances than the partners with whom they interacted. However, they did produce a significantly smaller percentage of the negotiation strategies produced by their triads. They also used developmentally lower level strategies than either of the partners in their triads. Children interacting within the CA and LS triads did not produce similar differences.