ERIC Number: EJ833738
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Apr
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9630
EISSN: N/A
Factors that Influence Vocabulary Development in Two-Year-Old Children
Stokes, Stephanie F.; Klee, Thomas
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, v50 n4 p498-505 Apr 2009
Background: This research explored the relative impact of demographic, cognitive, behavioural, and psycholinguistic factors on vocabulary development in two-year-old children. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-two children (24-30 months) were tested on expressive and receptive vocabulary, cognitive development, word learning and working memory skills. Parents completed a British adaptation (Klee & Harrison, 2001) of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI; Fenson et al., 1993), a demographic questionnaire and a questionnaire regarding the child's social-emotional behaviour. Results: Several demographic, child and processing variables were significantly correlated with CDI (vocabulary) scores, but the only significant unique predictors of CDI scores were nonword repetition (NWR; R[superscript 2] change = 0.36), sex (R[superscript 2] change = 0.05) and age (R[superscript 2] change = 0.04). Scores were only included when a child completed the entire NWR test (77% of toddlers). Conclusions: The NWR task used in this experiment maximised participation in this group of toddlers, and was a strong predictor of vocabulary ability. Longitudinal research is warranted to explore the independent and reciprocal growth in working memory and language skills in children.
Descriptors: Toddlers, Measures (Individuals), Short Term Memory, Vocabulary Development, Language Skills, Language Acquisition, Cognitive Development, Young Children, Child Behavior, Psycholinguistics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A