title: Working memory, reading ability and the effects of distance and typicality on anaphor resolution in children.
abstract: We investigated the time course of anaphor resolution in children and whether this is modulated by individual differences in working memory and reading skill. The eye movements of 30 children (10-11 years) were monitored as they read short paragraphs in which (1) the semantic typicality of an antecedent and (2) its distance in relation to an anaphor were orthogonally manipulated. Children showed effects of distance and typicality on the anaphor itself and also on the word to the right of the anaphor, suggesting that anaphoric processing begins immediately but continues after the eyes have left the anaphor. Furthermore, children showed no evidence of resolving anaphors in the most difficult condition (distant atypical antecedent), suggesting that anaphoric processing that is demanding may not occur online in children of this age. Finally, working memory capacity and reading comprehension skill affect the magnitude and time course of typicality and distance effects during anaphoric processing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Social Work and Public Health, Oxford Brookes University , Gipsy Lane Campus, Headington , Oxford OX3 0BP , UK ; Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford , South Parks Road, Oxford , OX1 3UD , UK.
authors.forename: Holly S S L
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford , South Parks Road, Oxford , OX1 3UD , UK.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bremner
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Southampton , Highfield Campus, Southampton , SO17 1BJ , UK.
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Liversedge
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford , South Parks Road, Oxford , OX1 3UD , UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nation
keywords: Anaphor resolution; Children; Eye movements; Reading; Reading comprehension; Working memory