Visual variability affects early verb learning

Twomey, Katherine E, Lush, Lauren, Pearce, Ruth and Horst, Jessica S (2014) Visual variability affects early verb learning. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY, 32 (3). pp. 359-366.

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Abstract

Research demonstrates that within-category visual variability facilitates noun learning; however, the effect of visual variability on verb learning is unknown. We habituated 24-month-old children to a novel verb paired with an animated star-shaped actor. Across multiple trials, children saw either a single action from an action category (identical actions condition, for example, travelling while repeatedly changing into a circle shape) or multiple actions from that action category (variable actions condition, for example, travelling while changing into a circle shape, then a square shape, then a triangle shape). Four test trials followed habituation. One paired the habituated verb with a new action from the habituated category (e.g., 'dacking' + pentagon shape) and one with a completely novel action (e.g., 'dacking' + leg movement). The others paired a new verb with a new same-category action (e.g., 'keefing' + pentagon shape), or a completely novel category action (e.g., 'keefing' + leg movement). Although all children discriminated novel verb/action pairs, children in the identical actions condition discriminated trials that included the completely novel verb, while children in the variable actions condition discriminated the out-of-category action. These data suggest that - as in noun learning - visual variability affects verb learning and children's ability to form action categories.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	First published online 15th April 2014. Published in conjunction with British Pyschological Society. Cite as: Twomey, K. E., Lush, L., Pearce, R. and Horst, J. S. (2014), Visual variability affects early verb learning. British Journal of Developmental Psychology. doi: 10.1111/bjdp.12042 .
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Random Allocation, Child Development, Language Development, Learning, Association Learning, Visual Perception, Concept Formation, Vocabulary, Child, Preschool, Infant, Female, Male, Habituation, Psychophysiologic
Subjects:	?? BF ??
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2014 15:55
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2022 10:31
DOI:	10.1111/bjdp.12042
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/19153