title: Matters of accuracy and conventionality: prior accuracy guides children's evaluations of others' actions.
abstract: Studies show that children trust previously reliable sources over previously unreliable ones (e.g., Koenig, Clément, & Harris, 2004). However, it is unclear from these studies whether children rely on accuracy or conventionality to determine the reliability and, ultimately, the trustworthiness of a particular source. In the current study, 3- and 4-year-olds were asked to endorse and imitate one of two actors performing an unfamiliar action, one actor who was unconventional but successful and one who was conventional but unsuccessful. These data demonstrated that children preferred endorsing and imitating the unconventional but successful actor. Results suggest that when the accuracy and conventionality of a source are put into conflict, children may give priority to accuracy over conventionality when estimating the source's reliability and, ultimately, when deciding who to trust.
authors.affiliation: Human Development and Family Studies, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0160, USA. scofield@ches.ua.edu
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scofield
authors.forename: Ansley Tullos
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Gilpin
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pierucci
authors.forename: Reed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*