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Abstract
Spontaneous tool innovation to solve physical problems is difficult for young children. In three studies, we explored the effect of prior experience with tools on tool innovation in children aged 4- to 7- years (n=299). We also gave children an experience more consistent with that experienced by corvids in similar studies, to enable fairer cross-species comparisons. Children who had the opportunity to use a premade target tool in the task context during a warm-up phase were significantly more likely to innovate a tool to solve the problem on the test trial, compared to children who had no such warm-up experience. Older children benefited from either using or merely seeing a premade target tool prior to a test trial requiring innovation. Younger children were helped by using a premade target tool. Seeing the tool helped younger children in some conditions. We conclude that spontaneous innovation of tools to solve physical problems is difficult for children. However, children from 4 years can innovate the means to solve the problem when they have had experience with the solution (visual or haptic exploration). Directions for future research are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 81-94 |
Journal | Journal of Experimental Child Psychology |
Volume | 161 |
Early online date | 8 May 2017 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2017 |
Keywords
- problem solving
- cognitive development
- innovation
- tool use
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Dive into the research topics of 'The effect of prior experience on children’s tool innovation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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(Re)Inventing the wheel: the development of tool innovation.
Beck, S. (Principal Investigator), Apperly, I. (Co-Investigator) & Chappell, J. (Co-Investigator)
Economic & Social Research Council
12/10/12 → 30/09/16
Project: Research Councils