Evidence for an explanation advantage in naïve biological reasoning.

Cognitive Psychology
Cristine H LegareSusan A Gelman

Abstract

The present studies compare young children's explanations and predictions for the biological phenomenon of contamination. In Study 1, 36 preschoolers and 24 adults heard vignettes concerning contamination, and were asked either to make a prediction or to provide an explanation. Even 3-year-olds readily supplied contamination-based explanations, and most children mentioned an unseen mechanism (germs, contact through bodily fluids). Moreover, unlike adults who performed at ceiling across both explanation and prediction tasks, children were significantly more accurate with their explanations than their predictions. In Study 2, we varied the strength of cues regarding the desirability of the contaminated substance (N=24 preschoolers). Although desirability affected responses, for both levels of desirability participants were significantly more accurate on explanation than prediction questions. Altogether, these studies demonstrate a significant "explanation advantage" for children's reasoning in the domain of everyday biology.

Citations

Nov 2, 2011·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Michael SiegalPaul G Overton
Oct 1, 2011·Annual Review of Anthropology·Susan A Gelman, Cristine H Legare
May 30, 2012·Psychology, Health & Medicine·Caroline McIntoshAntonia Lyons
Nov 4, 2015·Child Development·Susan A GelmanNicholaus S Noles
Mar 5, 2016·Cognitive Science·Shaylene E Nancekivell, Ori Friedman
Dec 1, 2015·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Katy-Ann Blacker, Vanessa LoBue
Sep 10, 2015·Topics in Cognitive Science·Rachel E Watson-JonesCristine H Legare
Mar 16, 2012·Child Development·Cristine H LegarePaul L Harris
Aug 19, 2011·The British Journal of Developmental Psychology·Steve Croker, Heather Buchanan
Aug 12, 2014·Topics in Cognitive Science·Susan A GelmanSarah Stilwell
May 14, 2011·Cognitive Science·Joseph J Williams, Tania Lombrozo
Jun 25, 2010·Child Development·Cristine H LegareHenry M Wellman
Jun 20, 2014·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Cristine H Legare, Tania Lombrozo
Apr 29, 2015·Cognitive Development·Jennifer Van ReetAngeline S Lillard
Aug 17, 2014·Cognition·Caren M WalkerAlison Gopnik
Nov 11, 2014·Journal of Cognition and Development : Official Journal of the Cognitive Development Society·Cristine H LegareSusan A Gelman
Jul 11, 2016·Cognition·Susan A Gelman, Natalie S Davidson
Jul 9, 2016·Child Development·Caren M WalkerAlison Gopnik
Oct 10, 2014·Evolutionary Psychology : an International Journal of Evolutionary Approaches to Psychology and Behavior·Joshua Rottman
Jun 26, 2017·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Jonathan D Lane, Patrick Shafto
May 1, 2012·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Deanna Kuhn
Jul 14, 2010·Cognitive Science·Frank C Keil
Mar 14, 2019·Child Development·Aiyana K WillardCristine H Legare
Aug 27, 2013·Review of Philosophy and Psychology·Susan A Gelman
Mar 17, 2020·Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development·Maureen A CallananJanella Watson
Oct 8, 2013·Women & Health·Dorothy Ngozi OnonokponoSunday Adedini
Feb 9, 2017·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Caren M WalkerTania Lombrozo
Jul 27, 2017·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Cristine H LegareMaureen Callanan
Sep 1, 2011·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Susan A Gelman, Nicholaus S Noles
Dec 22, 2016·Cognitive Science·Arber Tasimi, Susan A Gelman
May 22, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Zeynep CivelekAmanda M Seed
Jan 23, 2021·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Özgün KöksalCristine H Legare
Feb 19, 2021·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Emily GerdinJasmine M DeJesus
Sep 1, 2021·Child Development·Jasmine M DeJesusKatherine D Kinzler

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.