5.4.2.2.5 Contrast task

Scoring criteria for the contrast task

Each child was asked two questions, one per target word. Provision of appropriate contrasts
was scored as correct, while provision of inappropriate contrasts was scored as incorrect. For
the present experiment appropriate contrast was considered if the target word was different
from another item from the same semantic category (e.g. appropriate contrast for the abez
(oboe) was any musical instrument contrast, while appropriate contrast for the feber (tepee)
was any type of house contrast). All the other contrasts were considered as inappropriate.
Each child could get a score from 0 - 2.Qualitative analysis of children’s contrasts was also
carried out.

Analysis

If all children were correct on the two target words, the maximum total score would be 384
for all the participants in each post test. As the Figure 5.15 below shows, most of the children
provided “don ^,t know /irrelevant'' responses for both post tests. The contrast task was quite
difficult for the children.

Figure 5.15 Children’s performance on the contrast task for both post tests

Immediate post test

Delayed post test

і___j Nozirrelevantcontrasts

B Appropriate contrasts

To what extent does children ^,s performance on the contrast task differ by age ?

If all children from each age group were correct on the two target words, the maximum total
score would be 128 for each age group in each post test. Figure 5.16 below demonstrates
children’s performance on the contrast task by age for both post tests.

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