A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What major conclusion did Wood et al. draw about children's comprehension and production skills?

1. Production skills develop before comprehension

2. Comprehension and production develop simultaneously

3. Comprehension precedes production

4. Children of all ages comprehend equally

The correct answer is: Comprehension precedes production

The conclusion that comprehension precedes production highlights the developmental trajectory of language skills in children. Research suggests that children are able to understand language before they are capable of producing it themselves. This means that as children are exposed to language, they become adept at decoding and making sense of spoken words and sentences, which sets the foundation for their later ability to express themselves verbally. This sequence of development is significant because it underscores how understanding language is crucial for effective communication. For example, a toddler may be able to follow simple instructions or respond to questions even before they can articulate full sentences themselves. This notion aligns with the natural progression of language acquisition, where comprehension serves as a groundwork for expressive skills to develop over time. The other options do not align with the prevailing theories of language development; thus, they do not encapsulate the findings of Wood et al. about the relationship between comprehension and production in early childhood language development.