How do 3 to 5-year-olds figure out the meaning of unclear language?
Language is full of ambiguities, and sometimes, we have to use context to figure out what it means. For example, if we say “Susie is a parent. Her favorite color is purple,” we know exactly what that means. However, if we say “Susie has a child. Her favorite color is purple,” suddenly, purple could be Susie’s favorite color, or her kid’s! How do kids decide which one it is? In this study, your child will put stickers on different characters in a picture book, based on what Mooks the puppet says.
This is an in-person study, taking place in the lab and in preschools/childcare centers in the New Haven area. If you have a 3-, 4- or 5-year-old and live in the New Haven area, you can book a time to come into the lab below!