Research article summary (published 30 Oct 2002):

Object names and object functions serve as cues to categories for infants.

Full Abstract

Can object names and functions act as cues to categories for infants? In Study 1, 14- and 18-month-old infants were shown novel category exemplars along with a function, a name, or no cues. Infants were then asked to "find another one," choosing between 2 novel objects (1 from the familiar category and the other not). Infants at both ages were more likely to select the category match in the function than in the no-cue condition. However, only at 18 months did naming the objects enhance categorization. Study 2 shows that names can facilitate categorization for 14-month-olds as well when a hint regarding the core meaning of the objects (the function of a single familiarization object) is provided.

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Author information

Author/s: Booth, Amy E (AE); Waxman, Sandra (S);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208-2710, USA. a-booth(-atsign-)northwestern.edu

Grants: HD-08595-02 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Developmental psychology (Dev Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Nov; vol 38 (issue 6) : pp 948-57

Dates: Created 2002/11/13; Completed 2003/04/07; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12428706, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Association Learning Cues Discrimination Learning Female Humans Infant

Infant Language Development Male Pattern Recognition, Visual Psycholinguistics Verbal Learning

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