The goal of this research is to explore abilities to learn word meanings from overheard conversations in children with ASD (and, as a control, typically developing children). Specific Aim 1 (Experiment 1): Subaim 1a: Identify child characteristics associated with learning from overhearing. In a prior study, the investigators found that 13 children with ASD were able to learn the meanings of novel words that they heard used in a conversation involving two adults. In the current study, the investigators aim to study a larger sample to identify what child characteristics are associated with good learning in an overhearing situation as compared to a situation in which the child is directly taught the new word. Subaim 1b: Assess retention and generalization of words learned from overhearing. The investigators will re-test children on their knowledge of the word meanings after a 10-minute delay to see if they both retain the word meanings and can generalize the new words to new situations.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
342
New words are introduced with the child as an observer rather directly taught.
New words are introduced directly to the child by an experimenter.
Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
New York University
New York, New York, United States
Number of Children Who Select the Target Object as Measured by Gaze Preference.
Children are prompted to identify the object that is associated with the target word.
Time frame: immediately after viewing 3-minute interaction
Number of Children Who Select the Target Object as Measured by Gaze Preference.
Children are prompted to identify the object that is associated with the target word.
Time frame: 5 minutes after viewing interaction
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