Which character pronounced the word that way?

Cognition and Language Learning Research Group (Dalhousie University)

Who Can Participate

For 5- to 7-year-olds who are fluent in English and currently reside in Canada or the United States

What Happens

This study will take place on a video call, live with a researcher! Clicking on the “Schedule a time to participate” button will send you to an online calendar where you can select a date and time that works for you. During the study, your child will meet with a researcher who will introduce them to clipart characters and novel objects on the screen. They will hear the characters label the objects using different types of pronunciations. During each trial, your child will decide which type of speaker used a specific pronunciation. At the end of the study, we will ask them, “What helped you decide who said each word?”

What We're Studying

The aim of this study is to explore the social information (e.g., race and sex/gender of the speaker) that children track during language processing. Our approach to studying language acquisition not only considers real-world linguistic and social diversity but is sensitive to how this diversity supports language learning. This research will aid psychologists, educators, speech-language practitioners, and policymakers as children in Canada and the United States interact with speakers of diverse racial, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds across various settings.

Duration

25 minutes

Compensation

For families residing in Canada, you will receive a $10 (CAD) Amazon e-gift card (redeemable at Amazon.ca). For families residing in the United States, you will receive an Amazon e-gift card of equivalent value in USD (redeemable at Amazon.com). To receive this compensation, you must meet all of the following criteria: (1) your child is within the age range for this study, (2) your child is fluent in English, (3) your child is visible during the Zoom call, and (4) you have submitted a valid consent statement.

Each child is eligible to participate to receive a gift card only once; participants cannot do the study more than once for compensation. You will receive your e-gift card within one week of participation.