Figure 7.9 Total number of correct responses on the definition task by semantic
domain across testing

To what extent does the child’s prior lexical knowledge (Comprehension and Naming)
influence the provision of definitions 1

Children with high level baseline comprehension vocabulary provided more definitions than
children with low level baseline vocabulary across testing. The differences were significant
for post test 2 (Mann-Whitney U: Z=2.4, p<.05). Separate analysis for each group
demonstrated the same pattern, however the differences were not significant. In addition,
children with high level of baseline naming vocabulary provided more definitions than
children with low level baseline naming vocabulary across testing. The differences were
found to be significant for post test 2 (Mann-Whitney U: Z=3.8, p<.0005) and post test 3
(Mann-Whitney U: Z=3.05, p<.005). Separate analysis for each group demonstrated the same
pattern, however, the differences were not significant.

Qualitative analysis

Children’s definitions focused on a variety of properties about the target referents which are
presented in Table 7.11 below table.

Table 7.11 Types of properties mentioned in children’s definitions

Properties______________

_____________Example__________________________

Descriptive properties
Semantic properties
Functional properties

Contextual properties

e.g. for the ostrich “it has flat head and long neck”

e.g “Ostrich is a bird”

e.g. for the ladle “to put soup in the bowl”; for the ostrich

“ it runs very fast”

e.g.“the mole lives underground”