The aim of the present study was to examine factors that could influence whether recall performance in a Verbal Working Memory task (Listening Span Test) would benefit from the schematic knowledge of the long-term semantic memory. More specifically, we investigated whether children would benefit from sentence simply reporting typical properties of objects or when the sentences were stereotypical knowledge structures of everyday routine events of general goals. A total of 120 children, aged 6.5 to 13.3, and 30 additional adults participated in the study. Sentences presenting concrete items in their typical organized contexts (Scripted) were compared with sentences simply describing them (Descriptive), and were balanced in True and False statements. The results show that words recall is better in Scripted than in Descriptive sen- tences at every age level and in True vs. False statements. Scripted sentences also give rise to more intrusions. The specific contribution of this study lies in its focus on the ecological validity of this kind of semantic organization, which appears to support Working Memory processes even from early phases of development.

Semantic representation and Verbal Working Memory: the impact of schematic knowledge on word recall in children at different age levels

BELACCHI, CARMEN;
2013

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine factors that could influence whether recall performance in a Verbal Working Memory task (Listening Span Test) would benefit from the schematic knowledge of the long-term semantic memory. More specifically, we investigated whether children would benefit from sentence simply reporting typical properties of objects or when the sentences were stereotypical knowledge structures of everyday routine events of general goals. A total of 120 children, aged 6.5 to 13.3, and 30 additional adults participated in the study. Sentences presenting concrete items in their typical organized contexts (Scripted) were compared with sentences simply describing them (Descriptive), and were balanced in True and False statements. The results show that words recall is better in Scripted than in Descriptive sen- tences at every age level and in True vs. False statements. Scripted sentences also give rise to more intrusions. The specific contribution of this study lies in its focus on the ecological validity of this kind of semantic organization, which appears to support Working Memory processes even from early phases of development.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11576/2569183
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