Quick questions on The child language data question: method and technique - OCR A-Level English Language

The structural mistake is to write three blocks: an analysis block, a theory block, an interaction block. The marks come from integration. Each point should ideally do more than one thing: analyse a feature, say what theory it supports, and note the interactional context. A virtuous error, for instance, is an AO1 feature, AO2 evidence for nativism over behaviourism, and (if the caregiver expands it) part of the AO3 interaction.

A theory-led answer that recites Skinner, Chomsky and Bruner before looking at the transcript tends to bolt the data on as an afterthought. Lead with the data: analyse the features, and let them summon the relevant theory. This keeps the answer evidenced and ensures the theory is deployed critically (tested against the data) rather than narrated.

The command words ("analyse and evaluate", "evaluate the most convincing explanation") require judgement. Weigh the theories against the data, show what each explains and where each struggles, and reach a conclusion about the child's stage and the best account of their development. Description, however accurate, sits below evaluation.

"The child's 'it breaked' is the answer's pivot: phonologically and grammatically it shows a confident multi-word utterance with an inflectional ending (AO1), but the over-regularised past tense is a virtuous error that the data makes decisive for the theory debate, because no caregiver models 'breaked' (AO2). It cannot be imitation, so it challenges Skinner and supports a rule-constructing, nativist or cognitivist account, and when the caregiver responds 'yes, it broke', the expansion models the correct form, an interactional scaffold (AO3)." One feature carries all three objectives.

A blocked answer might analyse the phonology, then summarise three theories, then describe the caregiver. Upgraded, it integrates: each feature is analysed, tied to the theory it supports, and read with the interaction, building to an evaluated judgement about the child's stage and the best explanation.

Which three assessment objectives does the child language data question assess? [2 marks]

Why is leading with the data better than leading with theory? [2 marks]

Using a transcript, analyse and evaluate how the child's language develops, with reference to relevant theories and the role of the interaction. [20 marks]