performance on the inference task by age group for both post tests. As the figure below
shows there were age differences on children’s performance.

Figure 5.8 Total number of correct responses in the inference task by age for both post
tests

I Immediateposttest
Щ Delayed post test

Significant correlations were found between children’s age and their performance on the
inference task across testing. The same pattern was also found when vocabulary and memory
scores were controlled for (see Appendix 5.14 for correlations).

Two one way ANOVAs were used in order to investigate whether the differences were
significant. Score in the inference task was the dependent factor, while age was the
independent factor. Significant differences were found both for the immediate (Kruskal-
Wallis, 1 Way ANOVA: X²= 10.9, df=2, p<.005) and the Delayed post test (Kruskal-Wallis,
1 Way ANOVA: X²= 11.2, df¾, p<.005).

Post hoc analysis for the immediate post test revealed that the older children performed better
than the younger ones. The 6 year-olds, particularly performed significantly better than the
4 year-olds (Mann-Whitney: Z=3.3, p<.005) and the 6 year-olds tended to perform better than
the 5 year-olds. No significant differences were found between the 4- and 5 year-olds. Post
hoc analysis for the delayed post test revealed that the 5 year-olds performed significantly
better than the 4 year-olds (Mann-Whitney: Z=2.1, p<.05). Similarly, the 6 year-olds
performed significantly better than the 4 year-olds (Mann-Whitney: Z=3.2, p<.005). No
significant differences were found between the 5- and the 6 year-olds.

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