Journal Article

Easy as ABCABC: Abstract Language Facilitates Performance on a Concrete Patterning Task

Rittle-Johnson, Bethany, Fyfe, Emily R., McNeil, Nicole M.

2015

Overview

The labels used to describe patterns and relations can influence children's relational reasoning. In this study, 62 preschoolers (Mage = 4.4 years) solved and described eight pattern abstraction problems (i.e., recreated the relation in a model pattern using novel materials). Some children were exposed to concrete labels (e.g., blue-red-blue-red) and others were exposed to abstract labels (e.g., A-B-A-B). Children exposed to abstract labels solved more problems correctly than children exposed to concrete labels. Children's correct adoption of the abstract language into their own descriptions was particularly beneficial. Thus, using concrete learning materials in combination with abstract representations can enhance their utility for children's performance. Furthermore, abstract language may play a key role in the development of relational thinking.

• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd,Wiley for the Society for Research in Child Development,Wiley-Blackwell,Oxford University Press
• Subject: Abstract Reasoning / Adopted children / Child development / Child Development - physiology / Child psychology / Child, Preschool / Children / Classification / Cognition & reasoning / Cognitive Processes / Comparative Analysis / Concept Formation / EMPIRICAL REPORTS / Female / Humans / Instructional Materials / Labeling / Language / Language Acquisition / Logical Thinking / Male / Parent-child relations / Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology / Preschool Children / Problem Solving / Problem Solving - physiology / Reasoning / Relational thinking / Thinking - physiology