Analogy condition performed significantly better than the children in the Lexical contrast
condition (Mann-Whitney, Z=2.09, p<.05). No significant differences were found during the
delayed post test.

Figure 5.12 Total number of correct responses in the definition task by linguistic
condition for both post tests

∏ Delayedposttest

Linguistic condition differences within each age group were also investigated. The same
pattern was found within each age group as before. However, post hoc analysis of the 4 year-
olds responses demonstrated that children in the Analogy condition performed significantly
better than children in the Lexical contrast condition during the delayed post test (Mann-
Whitney: Z=2.00, p<.05). Furthermore, post hoc analysis of the 6 year-olds responses
revealed a trend for the children in the Definition condition to perform better than the
children in the Analogy and Lexical contrast conditions during the immediate post test.
Lastly, children in the Inference condition performed significantly better than children in the
Definition (Mann-Whitney: Z=1.9, p<.05) and Lexical contrast conditions (Mann-Whitney:
Z=2.3, p<.05) during the delayed post test.

To what extent does children ^,s success on the definition task change between the immediate
and delayed post test ?

During the immediate post test the children provided 54.9% appropriate definitions while in
the delayed post test they provided 57.3 % appropriate definitions. Statistical comparison
between the two post tests revealed no significant differences. Comparison of children’s
performance between the two post tests within each age group revealed the same pattern.

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