Development of Word Naming and Knowing in Children Aged 3-7:  A Behavioural and Computational Study

Supervisor:          Professor Jackie Masterson (IoE)

Co-Supervisor:    Dr Michael Thomas (Bbk)

Vocabulary or lexical knowledge plays a central role in early cognitive development and affects children's academic success and literacy development.  This project will investigate the development of naming and word knowledge in young children between 3 and 7 years of age, using a combination of behavioural data collection and computational modelling.  A window into the mechanisms underlying lexical knowledge is provided by the factors that have been shown to modulate naming accuracy and latency.  It is proposed that the children will be tested on picture naming tasks, tasks tapping knowledge of word meanings, and tasks mapping knowledge of speech sounds.  These data will provide measures of semantic processing, lexical retrieval and phonological processing which will be used to construct typical developmental trajectories of component skills.  Research in computational cognitive modelling explores the essence of cognition through constructing theories that specify computational mechanisms, structures and processes.  The project involves building a model of vocabulary development using the connectionist approach and exploring how naming abilities depend on the emerging structure of semantic and phonological representations.  Extensions of the model are then possible to address developmental disorders where children's naming skills are impaired.

The candidate will have an undergraduate degree and preferably a masters degree in psychology, cognitive science or a related discipline.  A strong interest in cognitive/language development is a pre-requisite.  A strong interest in the use of models is also a pre-requisite.  The candidate should have familiarity with at least one computer programming language, although specific training will be given in the relevant methods for building the computational model.  The studentship will be located within a unique multidisciplinary setting.  The PhD student will have access to world class expertise in the fields of education, psychology and neuroscience.  There will be an opportunity to benefit from behavioural data collection within an educational setting, as well as to develop expertise in computational modelling.  The student will also have opportunities to be exposed to a range of research methods in the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience in one of the world centres in this field.  The student will be part of Dr Thomas's Developmental Neurocognition Laboratory, as well as becoming a member of the Forum for Language and Literacy at the Institute of Education.  These groups will provide supportive fora for the development of the student's research.

Key References

D'Amico, S., Devescovi, A. & Bates, E. (2001).  Picture naming and lexical access in Italien children and adults.  Journal of Cognition and Development 2, 71-105.
Funnell, E., Hughes, D. & Woodcock, J. (2005).  Age of acquisition for naming and knowing:  A new hypothesis.  Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 59, 268-95.
Masterson, J., Druks, J. & Gallienne, D. (2008).  Object and action picture naming in three and five year old children.  Journal of Child Language, 35, 378-402.
Thomas, M. S. C., & McClelland, J. L. (2008).  Connectionist models of cognition.  In: R. Sun (Ed), Cambridge handbook of computational cognitive modelling. Cambridge:  Cambridge University Press

Further details about the project may be obtained from:

Supervisor:          Professor Jackie Masterson, j.masterson@ioe.ac.uk
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/study/PHDT_45.html

Co-Supervisor:      Dr Michael Thomas, m.thomas@bbk.ac.uk
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/psyc/staff/academic/mthomas
http://www.psyc.bbk.ac.uk/research/DNL/

Further information about PhDs at IoE is available from:
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/doctoralschool/

How to apply

Applications should be made using the online UK Postgraduate Applications System (UKPASS)
http://www.ukpass.ac.uk/
You will need to register with UKPASS to use this online application system.  It is free of charge to register and apply.

Please indicate in your application the reference number of the studentship for which you wish to be considered:  BCPhD:  Masters.

Additional Application Requirements

In addition to the standard application form we require:

1.  A short statement of no more than 500 words on:
why you are interested in this project;
your current knowledge of the areas it covers and/or the way in which you will bring yourself up to speed on the subject matter.

2.  A copy of a piece of your own written work.  This might be something you have written as coursework, or a publication (either for a peer reviewed journal or something more journalistic such as a student newspaper).

Closing date for applications is:  1st March 2010