0000000001186176
AUTHOR
Yannick Lagarrigue
Solid ground makes solid understandings: does simple comparison paves the way for more complex comparisons ?
In this experiment, we investigated the role of dimensional distinctiveness on the generalization of novel names for unfamiliar objects. In a comparison design, we manipulated the sequence of trials difficulty, starting either with more difficult trials or with easier trials. To achieve this, we manipulated the dimensional distinctiveness of the first comparison trials and of the, later, transfer trials. Results showed that high-distinctiveness (easy) stimuli increased children’s later performance in the low-distinctiveness (difficult) condition whereas low-distinctiveness early training led to no later improvement in easier trials. Last, a correct answer for the first trial in the first le…
From two to many: The role of executive functions in young children's generalization of novel object names in a comparison design
In this study, 4-year-old children were tested in an object name generalization task with a stimulus comparison design. Performance in the generalization task was correlated with performance in a vocabulary test and three executive function tasks assessing inhibition, flexibility, and working memory. Correlational analyses revealed a significant association with flexibility but not with inhibition, working memory or vocabulary test. We interpret the results in terms of a capacity to flexibly generate novel dimensions rather than inhibiting irrelevant dimensions. Individual differences in working memory and inhibition did not significantly influence performance in the word extension task. Mo…
Children’s Learning and Generalization of Novel Concepts with Comparison Designs
Teaching a new word to children usually consists of the concomitant presentation of its phonological form and an example. It is then expected that they will be able, from this unique example, to generalize the new word to other entities of the same category. They must therefore understand which properties of the example are relevant to correctly generalize the new word (Murphy, 2002). The main objective of this thesis work is to better understand the learning situations of a new concept and its generalization to new stimuli. For this, investigated the comparison paradigm and how variations of the parameters of the task affect generalization.After presenting our paradigm of interest, we show…
Learning and generalizing new nouns
When they learn a new word, young children need to understand which are the relevant dimensions. The relevant dimensions are not always very salient, whereas salient properties might be conceptually irrelevant. This review illustrates the benefits of comparing simltaneously two (or more) examples introduced as members of the same category. This situation has been shown to be more effective for understanding the dimension relevance than the presentation of a single example or of several items introduced sequentially. We present studies showing that situations in which training examples are given are more effective than situations in which the examples are not labelled. We also include compar…