Achieving abstraction: Generating far analogies promotes relational reasoning in children

Developmental Psychology
Caren M WalkerMichael S Vendetti

Abstract

Analogical reasoning is essential for transfer by supporting recognition of relational similarity. However, not all analogies are created equal. The source and target can be similar (near), or quite different (far). Previous research suggests that close comparisons facilitate children's relational abstraction. On the other hand, evidence from adults indicates that the process of solving far analogies may be a more effective scaffold for transfer of a relational strategy. We explore whether engaging with far analogies similarly induces such a strategy in preschoolers. Children were provided with the opportunity to solve either a near or far spatial analogy using a pair of puzzle boxes that varied in perceptual similarity (Experiment 1), or to participate in a control task (Experiment 2). All groups were then presented with an ambiguous spatial reasoning task featuring both object and relational matches. We were interested in the relationship between near and far conditions and two effects: (a) children's tendency to spontaneously draw an analogy when solving the initial puzzle, and (b) their tendency to privilege relational matches over object matches in a subsequent, ambiguous task. Although children were more likely to spontan...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 18, 2019·Cognitive Science·Nina K Simms, Lindsey E Richland
Nov 9, 2020·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Ashley N MurphyLindsey Engle Richland
Aug 14, 2021·Brain and Cognition·Yanick Leblanc-SiroisIsabelle Blanchette

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