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The role of competition in word learning via referent selection

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 18:40 authored by Jessica HorstJessica Horst, Emilly J Scott, Jessica A Pollard
Previous research suggests that competition among the objects present during referent selection influences young children’s ability to learn words in fast mapping tasks. The present study systematically explored this issue with 30-month-old children. Children first received referent selection trials with a target object and either two, three or four competitor objects. Then, after a short delay, children were tested on their ability to retain the newly fast-mapped names. Overall, the number of competitors did not affect children’s ability to form the initial name–object mappings. However, only children who encountered few competitors during referent selection demonstrated significant levels of retention. Results and implications are discussed in terms of the role of competition in studies of children’s fast mapping. The relationship between referent selection and full word learning is also discussed.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Developmental Science

ISSN

1467-7687

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing

Issue

5

Volume

13

Page range

706-713

Pages

8.0

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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