Collins, Sarah J.Graham, SusanChambers, Craig G.2020-04-222020-04-222012-05Collins, S. J., Graham, S. A., & Chambers, C. G. (2012). Preschoolers' sensitivity to speaker action constraints to infer referential intent. "Journal of Experimental Child Psychology". 112 (2012), 389-402. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2012.03.0080022-0965http://hdl.handle.net/1880/111849https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/43658We investigated how preschoolers use their understanding of the actions available to a speaker to resolve referential ambiguity. In this study, 58 3- and 4-year-olds were presented with arrays of eight objects in a toy house and were instructed to retrieve various objects from the display. The trials varied in terms of whether the speaker's hands were empty or full when she requested an object as well as whether the request was ambiguous (i.e., more than one potential referent) or unambiguous (i.e., only one potential referent). Results demonstrated that both 3- and 4-year-olds were sensitive to speaker action constraints and used this information to guide on-line processing (as indexed by eye gaze measures) and to make explicit referential decisions.engUnless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.journal articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2012.03.008