A New Method for Studying Statistical Learning in Young Children.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	A New Method for Studying Statistical Learning in Young Children.
Authors:	Kavakci, Mariam¹ mariamkavakci@gmail.com, Dollaghan, Christine¹
Source:	Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research. Jul2019, Vol. 62 Issue 7, p2483-2490. 8p. 1 Chart, 4 Graphs.
Subject Terms:	Visual perception in children, Auditory perception in children, Reaction time, Eye movements, Statistical hypothesis testing
Abstract:	Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a new oculomotor serial reaction time (RT) task revealed statistical sequence learning in young children. Method: We used eye tracking to measure typically developing children's oculomotor RTs in response to cartoon-like creatures that appeared successively in quadrants of a monitor during 200 trials: an initial patterned phase (120 trials) in which the creature's location reflected 15 repetitions of an 8-element sequence, a pseudorandom phase (40 trials) in which the location was not predictable, and a final patterned phase (40 trials). In an auditory-visual version of the task, spoken nonwords linked to quadrants preceded the creature's appearance. In Study 1, we administered either the visual or the auditory-visual version to 5- and 6-year-old children; in Study 2, we examined the performance of 4-year-olds on the auditory-visual version. Results: In both studies, group mean RT z scores were significantly shorter (p < .05) during patterned than pseudorandom phases, with large effect sizes (Cohen's dz values = 1.17-1.79). Conclusion: The new oculomotor serial RT task detected statistical sequence learning in typically developing children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Education Research Complete

Description
Abstract:	Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a new oculomotor serial reaction time (RT) task revealed statistical sequence learning in young children. Method: We used eye tracking to measure typically developing children's oculomotor RTs in response to cartoon-like creatures that appeared successively in quadrants of a monitor during 200 trials: an initial patterned phase (120 trials) in which the creature's location reflected 15 repetitions of an 8-element sequence, a pseudorandom phase (40 trials) in which the location was not predictable, and a final patterned phase (40 trials). In an auditory-visual version of the task, spoken nonwords linked to quadrants preceded the creature's appearance. In Study 1, we administered either the visual or the auditory-visual version to 5- and 6-year-old children; in Study 2, we examined the performance of 4-year-olds on the auditory-visual version. Results: In both studies, group mean RT z scores were significantly shorter (p < .05) during patterned than pseudorandom phases, with large effect sizes (Cohen's dz values = 1.17-1.79). Conclusion: The new oculomotor serial RT task detected statistical sequence learning in typically developing children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	10924388
DOI:	10.1044/2019_JSLHR-L-18-0165