Development psychology project,

Topic: language development

Research question: "Does parental education level impact the language development of preschool-aged
children?"

In this study, the independent variable is parental education level, because it's the variable that the
researchers are manipulating or changing. The dependent variable is the language development of the
preschool-aged children, because it's the variable that's being measured or observed.

Research question: "Does exposure to a second language impact the language proficiency of bilingual
children?"

In this study, the independent variable is exposure to a second language, because it's the variable that's
being manipulated or changed. The dependent variable is the language proficiency of the bilingual
children, because it's the variable that's being measured or observed.

Variables to take into account,

1. Age of the participant: Language development varies greatly depending on the age of the child,
so this is an important variable to consider when conducting research.

2. Language exposure: The amount and type of language exposure a child has experienced can
impact their language development. Variables to consider here include the number of languages
spoken in the household, the frequency of exposure to each language, and the quality of
language input the child receives.

3. Socioeconomic status (SES): Research has shown that children from lower SES backgrounds may
experience delays in language development compared to their higher SES peers. Variables to
consider when looking at SES include parental education level, family income, and access to
resources like books and educational toys.

4. Language proficiency: The level of language proficiency a child has achieved in their primary
language(s) can impact their ability to acquire additional languages.

5. Cognitive abilities: Language development is closely tied to cognitive development, so it's

important to consider variables related to cognitive abilities such as working memory, attention,
and executive function.

6. Culture: Language development can be influenced by cultural factors, such as social norms and
beliefs about language use. Variables to consider here might include the cultural background of
the child and their family, as well as the cultural context in which the child is learning the
language(s).