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Language Development

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...

Language and Cognition

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.

Components of Language

Components of Language

Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs. “eh”). Phonemes combine to...

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...

Reliability and Validity

Reliability and Validity

Reliability and validity are two important considerations that must be made with any type of data collection. Reliability refers to the ability to consistently produce a given result. In the context of psychological research, this would mean that any instruments or tools used to collect data do so in consistent, reproducible ways.

The Nativist Approach

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

Beliefs about language development: construct validity evidence.

Mavis L Donahue¹, Qiong Fu, Everett V Smith

¹Department of Special Education, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. MDonahue@uic.edu

Journal of Applied Measurement

|December 29, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Adults' beliefs about child language development are often culturally transmitted and influenced by factors like bilingualism. Understanding these beliefs, including popular Behaviorist ideas, is key for effective language interventions.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Linguistics
Sociology

Background:

Child language development understanding requires considering sociocultural contexts and adult beliefs.
Existing data on these beliefs lack sufficient validation for reliable assessment.
The study addresses the need for psychometric evaluation of belief assessment tools.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the psychometric properties of the MODeL survey data on popular culture beliefs about language development.
To assess the construct validity (content, substantive, structural, generalizability, external) of the survey data.
To identify dimensions of beliefs aligned with theoretical models (Behaviorist, Cognitive, Nativist, Sociolinguistic).

Main Methods:

Survey data from the MODeL (Measuring Opinions on Development of Language) instrument were analyzed.
Psychometric properties, including construct validity, were rigorously examined.
Factor analysis was used to identify subscales representing different theoretical models of language development.

Main Results:

The MODeL survey data demonstrated adequate psychometric properties for assessing beliefs.
Four distinct belief dimensions were identified: Behaviorist, Cognitive, Nativist, and Sociolinguistic.
Behaviorist beliefs were most prevalent, with over half the items showing high consensus, indicating cultural transmission.
Bilingualism and ethnicity were found to correlate with Cognitive and Sociolinguistic beliefs.

Conclusions:

The MODeL survey provides a valid measure of popular beliefs about child language development.
Culturally-transmitted beliefs, particularly Behaviorist ones, are widespread.
Understanding these beliefs is crucial for refining theories of child-directed speech and designing culturally congruent language interventions.