Past Summer Researchers
- Kristin Benavides
- Clarissa Terrell
Childers Group
This summer, we will continue investigations of a specific cognitive mechanism children may use for acquiring new verbs. Although much is known about noun acquisition, researchers have only recently begun to study early verb learning. We are examining specific mental processes children use to compare two or more situations or events in which a particular verb is heard. Research on verb learning in normally developing children will provide specific findings concerning key cognitive mechanisms that neuroscientists can use to guide predictions about which areas of brain are likely involved in verb learning. This summer, we will continue our studies in our on-campus laboratory and in local day care centers. We use a behavioral task, video procedure and an eye-tracking system in our studies.
Research assistants recruit participants by phone, set up video equipment and stimuli and, most importantly, present stimuli in a consistent manner across participants. Other duties include coding of responses from videotape, creating new stimuli, and video editing in iMovie (if interested). Lab meetings with relevant readings will be conducted in which students would be encouraged to contribute new ideas.
Additional information about this research group is available on the Children's Research Lab website.
Recent Publications
Undergraduate students are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Childers, J. B., Vaughan, J.** & Burquest, D. A. (2007). Joint attention and early word learning in Ngas-speaking infants in Nigeria. Journal of Child Language, 33, 199-225.
Qualifications of successful applicants
Interested students are encouraged to set up an appointment with Dr. Childers to discuss the project. Qualifications for the position include course work in cognitive psychology and statistics and methods in psychology.
