word learning tasks

[Margaret Fleck]

Does it matter what sorts of (unfamiliar) objects you use?   E.g.
does the (relative) performance of adults and children differ
if you make them learn (say)

    -- unfamiliar animals
    -- unfamiliar abstract objects
    -- unfamiliar kitchen tools
    -- new Pokemon characters

Can choice of domain be exploited to help keep the adults off-balance?

Margaret Fleck, U. Illinois, Computer Science


McGregor, Karla K wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> If you have a large enough set of novel words, you can keep the adults
> away from ceiling. You might try a "quick incidental learning paradigm,"
> the variant on fast mapping that Mabel Rice has used in the past in
> which multiple new targets are embedded in a story script. 
> 
> You might also try multiple dependent variables, the children with
> cognitive impairments might demonstrate learning in recognition tasks
> only or in production tasks when given multiple retrieval cues; the
> children with normal development and the adults may learn well enough
> for production without the need of scaffolding.
> 
> I'll be interested to see the other suggestions,
> 
> 
> 
> Karla K. McGregor, Ph.D.
> Associate Professor
> 
> Speech Pathology and Audiology
> University of Iowa
> 121c WJSHC
> Iowa City, IA 52242
> 
> phone 319-335-8724
> fax 319-335-8851
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: info-childes at mail.talkbank.org
> [mailto:info-childes at mail.talkbank.org] On Behalf Of Michael Ullman
> Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 11:53 AM
> To: info-childes at mail.talkbank.org
> Subject: 
> 
> 
> We are looking for a task or tasks that probe word learning. Ideally we
> would
> be able to use the task (or variants of it) in both cognitively impaired
> and
> intact kids and adults.
> 
> We are *not* looking for episodic memory types of tasks such as
> the AVLT or CVLT, in which the subjects have to remember a list of real
> words.
> Rather we want to test learning of new words, ideally in a 
> (relatively) naturalistic context.
> Note that fast mapping tasks seem to be good in principle, though
> in practice one would likely get ceiling effects for adults.
> 
> Any ideas?
> 
> Best,
> 
> Michael Ullman
> 
> 
>