Work

Statistical learning and reading: Visual regularities support affix detection in developing readers

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The present study investigated the role of visual statistical learning in how developing readers learn to identify morphemes within words. A total of 121 children (55 girls, aged 6-11 years, M = 8.82, SD = 1.30) were recruited in Trieste, Italy, between January and June 2019. They were familiarized with pseudo-letter strings containing affix-like chunks, which could be identified only by their statistical properties. After passively observing the stimuli, children were more likely to attribute previously unseen strings to the familiarization lexicon if they contained a chunk, regardless of its position within the string. Results indicate that children can acquire morpho-orthographic knowledge through visual regularities from printed input. This ability was not modulated by age nor reading fluency, suggesting an early-maturing learning mechanism. The findings emphasize the importance of incorporating this fundamental, language-agnostic mechanism into morphology and reading acquisition theories.

Source: Child Development

DOI: 10.1093/chidev/aacaf014

Authors: Maria Ktori, Jarosław R Lelonkiewicz, Davide Crepaldi

Institution: Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati

Language: English

Topic: Reading and Literacy Development

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,320