title: Semantic similarity of labels and inductive generalization: taking a second look.
abstract: Prior research suggests that preschoolers can generalize object properties based on category information conveyed by semantically-similar labels. However, previous research did not control for co-occurrence probability of labels in natural speech. The current studies re-assessed children's generalization with semantically-similar labels. Experiment 1 indicated that adults made category-based inferences regardless of co-occurrence probability; however, 4-year-olds generalized with semantically-similar labels that co-occurred in child-directed speech (e.g., bunny-rabbit) but not with non-co-occurring labels (e.g., crocodile-alligator). Experiment 2 indicated that generalization with semantically-similar labels increased gradually between 4- and 6-years of age. These results are discussed in relation to theories of early learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, United States. fisher49@andrew.cmu.edu
authors.forename: Anna V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Bryan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Matlen
authors.forename: Karrie E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Godwin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005793:Generalization, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D011578:Psycholinguistics / Q000379:methods*; D012660:Semantics