Valuing of identity, distribution of attention, and perceptual salience in free and rule-governed classifications.
This experiment investigated classifications of multidimensional objects to test whether (1) the valuing of identity as a classification criterion occurs early in development, (2) the distribution of attention to multiple relations increases with development, and (3) the role of separate, component relations in solving multidimensional classification problems would be manifested through measures of perceptual salience. A salience preassessment followed by free and rule-governed classification tasks were given to 4-, 7-, and 18-year-olds. Total identity, partial identity, overall similar, or overall different choices were available for classification. Results associated with both free and rule-governed classifications indicated that identity serves as a highly valued classification criterion beginning as early as 4 years of age. Results associated with salience indicated that children as young as 4 years perceive and process relations separately and that 4-year-olds show greater differential attention than older children and adults.
Odom
R D
RD
Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA.
Cook
G L
GL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011337:Probability Learning; D011340:Problem Solving