M2
Our research group is seeking a highly motivated Master’s student to join a project on
multimodal communication in early childhood, with a specific focus on the role of gestures
in peer interactions. The thesis will investigate how children between 3 and 6 years old use
gestures when communicating with peers, and how their gestural repertoires (frequency, types, and integration with speech) evolve during this critical stage of social and linguistic development.
While much existing research has focused on gesture–speech combinations in child–caregiver interactions or controlled experimental settings, far less is known about how gestures function in peer-to-peer contexts, where children increasingly rely on communication to establish themselves in social groups, negotiate meaning, and exchange knowledge. By adopting a cross-sectional approach, the student will explore how gestures support complex peer interactions—such as argumentation and discourse structuring—during early socialization.
The student will work within a multidisciplinary team composed of experts in primatology,
developmental psychology, and psycholinguistics, benefiting from cross-disciplinary
mentoring and collaboration, while being trained in advanced annotation systems (e.g., M3D
labeling system, https://m3d.upf.edu/) and quantitative analysis techniques. The project’s
findings are expected to contribute to broader debates on the role of multimodality in early
social, linguistic, and cognitive development.
We particularly welcome students with backgrounds or strong interests in linguistics,
education, developmental psychology, primatology, or cognitive science. Prior
experience in qualitative (i.e., ELAN software) or quantitative research methods will be considered an asset.
The internship can be arranged in various formats, ranging from fully on-site to fully
remote, depending on the project and the circumstances of the selected candidate. Funding
opportunities may also be available through the ERASMUS+ program.
If you are interested in exploring the fascinating role of gestures in early communication,
please contact us at comparativeminds@udg.edu with your CV and your academic transcripts.
More about our research group: Comparative Minds is an interdisciplinary research
group within the Department of Psychology at the University of Girona that brings together
various fields, including Comparative Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive
Neuroscience, and Linguistics. Its research aims to address some of the fundamental
questions concerning behavior, cognition, and communication, both in non-human animals
and in humans. If you choose to join us, you will become part of a dynamic and supportive
research community where your growth truly matters. You will benefit from close,
personalized supervision that will guide you not only through your research and dissertation,
but also equip you with valuable skills and training to boost your professional development and open doors for your future career.