The Passive Transformation on Its Own.

This study investigated children's performance with the passive-transformation when both the mode of presentation and the mode of response were verbal. The study was also designed to provide a framework for the examination of theoretical issues regarding strategies in speech perception. Kindergarten and first-grade children individually heard 6 sentences all in the same voice and all either harmonious with or contrary to children's previously expressed expectations regarding the likely actor in the sentences. After each sentence the child heard a question about the content of the sentence. The score for each child was the number of questions answered correctly. Results of this study support the hypothesis that children do not rely exclusively on any single sentence processing strategy. Instead, they combine their knowledge of the world, of words, and of language in the perception of speech. The results also indicate that an exclusively verbal mode of presentation and response is quite difficult for children. (Author/GO)