Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
08:05
Measuring Statistical Learning Across Modalities and Domains in School-Aged Children Via an Online Platform and Neuroimaging Techniques
Published on: June 30, 2020
Exploring individual differences in the development of sociolinguistic bias: A large-scale study
Thomas St Pierre1, Elizabeth K Johnson2
1Institute for Language Sciences, Utrecht University, Trans 10, 3512 JK Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada.
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
|May 9, 2026
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Children often show in-group favoritism.
- The development of accent-based biases and the role of intergroup contact are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental trajectory of accent-based preferences in children.
- To examine the impact of intergroup contact, specifically exposure to other languages and accents, on these biases.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments involved children aged 3.5 to 7 years.
- A friendship preference task was used, comparing preferences for local vs. foreign-accented English speakers.
- Data on age, gender, and English/language exposure were collected.
Main Results:
- Accent-based in-group preferences emerge early and increase non-linearly with age, particularly around ages 4-5.
- Girls exhibited stronger biases than boys.
- Exposure to multiple languages was associated with weaker in-group preferences, while higher English exposure sometimes strengthened biases.
Conclusions:
- Accent-based biases develop early in childhood and are influenced by age and gender.
- Exposure to diverse linguistic environments may mitigate these biases.
- Further research is needed to understand the nuances of intergroup contact and bias development.
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