Week 1 - Data in Psycholinguistics

Question 1

Define: PSYCHOLINGUISTICS

Answer 1

Explores the relationship between the human mind and language and concerns with the ways in which language is represented and processed in the brain

Question 2

Define: QUANTITATIVE STUDY

Answer 2

An investigation that gathers numerical data that can be used for statistical analysis e.g. response times to a linguistic stimuli

Question 3

Define: QUALITATIVE STUDY

Answer 3

An investigation that gathers non-numerical data e.g. examples of the kinds of language used

Question 4

Define: OFF-LINE TECHNIQUES

Answer 4

Measuring variables related to the subsequent outcomes of processing e.g. speech errors

Question 5

Define: BEHAVIOURAL DEPENDENT VARIABLES

Answer 5

Measurable aspects of an experiment that are related to physical outcomes of the participant e.g. speech errors

Question 6

Define: NEUROPSHYSIOLOGICAL DEPENDENT VARIABLES

Answer 6

Measurable aspects of an experiment that are related to brain activity e.g. fMRI scans

Question 7

What are the three data types?

Answer 7

Observational, Experimental, Self-report

Question 8

Incomplete data relies on…

Answer 8

…context

Question 9

Define: EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Answer 9

Data gathered from experimental studies in which an independent variable is manipulated by a researcher and effects on language processing (DV) are measured

Question 10

Define: OBSERVATIONAL DATA

Answer 10

Derived from recording linguistic behaviour, with no direct manipulation of any variables

Question 11

Define: EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Answer 11

Derived from setting linguistic tests

Question 12

Define: SELF-REPORT

Answer 12

Where a subject describes a linguistic process as they are experiencing it, or shortly afterwards

Question 13

Define: THEORY-DRIVEN

Answer 13

Taking a well-established theory e.g. Chomskyan theory, and attempts to provide evidence of the theory in terms of how people behave

Question 14

Define: DATA-DRIVEN

Answer 14

Examining evidence obtained through observation or experiment and go on to suggest the best way of accounting for it

Question 15

Difference 1 - linguistic vs psycholinguistic data

Answer 15

Linguistic - focus on naturally occurring data

Psycholinguistic - focus on controlled language use

Question 16

Difference 2 - linguistic vs psycholinguistic data

Answer 16

Linguistic - data is typically language as a product

Psycholinguistic - data is typically language as a process

Question 17

Define: COMPETENCE

Answer 17

The implicit knowledge of language rules that enable us to generate an infinite no. of grammatically correct sentences, even if we haven’t heard or said them before

Question 18

Define: PERFORMANCE

Answer 18

How one uses the implicit knowledge of language rules

Question 19

Difference 1 - speech vs writing

Answer 19

Speech - spontaneous and less precise

Writing - deliberate and more precise

Question 20

Difference 2 - speech vs writing

Answer 20

Speech - takes place in real time

Writing - can be reviewed

Question 21

Define: PRODUCTIVE PROCESSES

Answer 21

Processes that relate to the ability to produce a NEW language-based stimuli e.g. writing or speaking never before heard utterances

Question 22

Define: RECEPTIVE PROCESSES

Answer 22

Processes that relate to the ability to receive stimuli e.g. reading and listening

Question 23

Define: LOWER LEVEL PROCESSES

Answer 23

Processes that involve the raw data of speech or writing

Question 24

Define: HIGHER LEVEL PROCESSES

Answer 24

Processes that involve shaping the raw data of speech or writing into meaning

Question 25

Define: ON-LINE TECHNIQUES

Answer 25

Measuring variables that tap into language processing as it happens e.g. eye tracking