Psychology: Understanding Psychology: Student Web Activity: Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Infancy and Childhood

"Watch That Language"

Introduction
Scientists have tried for some time to teach human language to computers, but they have found this to be a complex and difficult task. Learning a new language is equally difficult for adults. How then do babies learn to speak? While researchers are still puzzling over why children's vocabulary and use of language take off at about 18 months, they are learning more each day about an infant's ability to learn language. Read the news release from Johns Hopkins University about a study on long-term memory in infants for learning word sounds.

Destination Title: Headlines@Hopkins
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Directions

Start at the Headlines@Hopkins Web site.
Read through the article "Infants Have Keen Long-term Memory for Learning Word Sounds," taking notes as you go.

Read through the information, and then answer the following questions.

1. Why did experimental psychologists study word memory in infants?

2. What did the researchers do in their study?

3. What were the results of the study?

4. What does Peter Jusczyk think this study implies about word memory in babies?

5. Imagine you are an experimental psychologist and have heard about this study. You now want to take the results of this study further and find out more about infants and language development. Write a research proposal in which you outline areas of study that expand on the existing research. You can either continue with the work already done or expand into another area. Make sure you outline all elements of your future research in your proposal.