Psychological Development and Education ›› 2024, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (3): 431-441.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2024.03.14

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The Debate between Associative Learning and Hypothesis Testing in Cross-situational Word Learning

LIU Shuyun, HUANG Yanli, SHI Yujing, XIE Jiushu, DENG Zhu   

  1. School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097
  • Published:2024-05-15

Abstract: Word learning is the foundation of language learning. Cross-situational word learning is a main form of word learning. However, the inner mechanism of cross-situational word learning is still under debate. Previous studies have proposed two competing theories on the cross-situational word learning: associative learning and hypothesis testing theories. Associative learning theory holds that learners memorize all word-referent associations and choose the most robust word-referent according to co-occurrence frequency. However, hypothesis testing theory holds that learners only memorize a single word-referent association and verify it across trials. To solve the previous debate, the present review proposes an integrated model of associative learning theory and hypothesis testing theory, which is based on cutting-edge research findings. Future studies should examine the integrated model systematically in cross-situational word learning.

Key words: cross-situational word learning, language learning, learning mechanism, associative learning, hypothesis testing

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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