• The same pattern was evident within each linguistic condition. Significant
differences were found for the Analogy condition for both post tests. Furthermore, the
same pattern was found for the children from the Contrast condition.
Error analysis
• Children’s sentences focused on a variety of properties (idiosyncratic properties,
perceptual properties, functional properties, semantic properties). Children’s
sentences focused mainly on the “functional” properties of the items for both post
tests Statistical analysis revealed that the children provided significantly more
“functional” than “perceptual” and “semantic” properties across testing. Focus on
“perceptual” properties was another popular choice for both post tests. Children
during the delayed post test provided significantly more “perceptual” than “semantic”
properties. Fewer sentences focused on “semantic” properties for botii post tests.
• Whether the same pattern was evident within each age group was also investigated.
The older children provided fewer “don ,t know” responses than the younger ones.
The 4 year-olds provided significantly more “perceptual” and “functional” than
“semantic” properties for both post tests. The 5- and the 6 year-t Ids provided
significantly more “functional” than “perceptual” and “semantic” properties for both
post tests. Furthermore, during the Delayed post test they provided significantly more
“perceptual” than “semantic” properties.
• Within each linguistic condition the children provided more “function .Γ than other
properties. Particularly, from the responses given, the children in .he Inference
condition provided significantly more “functional” than “perceptual” ;.:id “semantic”
properties for both post tests. Furthermore, during the immediate post test they
provided significantly more “functional” properties than “don ,t know” responses. In
the delayed post test, they provided significantly more “perceptual” than “semantic”
properties.
• Children from the Analogy and Contrast condition provided sigm.Icantly more
“functional” than “perceptual” and “semantic” properties for b. .h post tests.
Furthermore, during the delayed post test, they provided significantly more