Big 4 theories

Question 1

Behaviourism

Answer 1

• Skinner
• Children learn lang by intimating adults, children are encouraged by rewards/reinforcement (praise or punishment)
• Imitation = repeating
• Positive reinforcement = if a child has said something accurate
• Negative reinforcement = If they get something wrong (corrected)

Question 2

Nativism

Answer 2

• Chomsky
• Children are born with the ability to speak/develop lang, process what they hear and each have a LAD
• Child routinely produces utterances
• Virtuous errors
• Children are resisting/not responding correction from adults

Question 3

Social interaction

Answer 3

• Bruner
• Input into child’s head, repetition, training, simplification
• Children enjoying interaction
• Caregiver features of CDS
• Conversation skill/pragmatic awareness

Question 4

Cognitivism

Answer 4

• Piaget & Vygotsky
• Idea links to thought, grasp a concept and explain, object permanence
• Children talking to themselves
• Children failing to use or understand language