Language Development and Disorders (LDD): research projects
Research studies
AMPs: Assessment of metapragmatics. Metapragmatic ability in children with pragmatic language impairments: exploring its potential as a mediator of intervention.
Abstract
Our understanding of the nature of pragmatic language impairment has now reached a stage at which researchers are ready to develop tools to move to an important stage of enquiry: how to promote well-being in these children and their families by facilitating communication. In order to target this intervention accurately, it is necessary to seek out treatment mediating factors; that is specific, identifiable factors in the intervention which are critical to progress. In this project we propose to study one likely candidate for mediation in intervention: metapragmatic ability.
Duration of the project
April 2007 - January 2009
Funding body
ESRC small grant
Members of the project
| Dr Catherine Adams | Principal investigator |
| Dr Elaine Lockton | Co-investigator |
| Ms Anna Collins | Research assistant |
This study has three main aims:
- to develop a reliable and valid metapragmatic assessment procedure for use with school-age children
- to profile metapragmatic abilities of a group of children with pragmatic language impairments and compare these to a group of children with typical language development and to a group of children with specific language impairment
- to study the role of metapragmatic ability as a mediating variable in a parallel intervention study for children with pragmatic language impairments