Scientific Reasoning in Young Children: Preschoolers’ Ability to Evaluate Covariation Evidence

2005 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Koerber ◽  
Beate Sodian ◽  
Claudia Thoermer ◽  
Ulrike Nett

Preschool children’s basic scientific reasoning abilities were investigated in two experiments. Consistent with findings by Ruffman et al. (1993) , Experiment 1 showed that even 4-year-olds can evaluate patterns of covariation evidence. However, even 6-year-olds had difficulties interpreting non-covariation evidence. Experiment 2 showed that 5-year-olds could overcome this difficulty when prompted to expect no causal relationship between two variables. Experiment 2 further showed that preschoolers’ evidence evaluation skills were affected by their pre-existing causal beliefs. However, their performance was above chance even when the evidence contradicted a prior belief they held with some conviction. In sum, our results demonstrate a basic understanding of the hypothesis-evidence relationship in preschool children, thus contributing to a revision of the picture of the scientifically illiterate preschooler.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Raj ◽  
Halimatus Sakdiah Minhat ◽  
Nor Afiah Mohd. Zulkefli ◽  
Norliza Ahmad

BACKGROUND The increasing screen time exposure among young children in general and the reported negative consequences associated with excessive ST, calls for focused strategies to reduce ST, especially among young children. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aimed to identify effective parental intervention strategies to reduce ST among preschool children. METHODS A total of five databases, namely Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, Medline Complete, PubMed, and Scopus, were searched for randomised controlled trials that involved intervention strategies in ST reduction among preschool children. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines were used. RESULTS A total of nine studies were assessed. The results showed that besides providing knowledge and awareness regarding ST, having restrictive practices, offering alternative activities to parents, and removal of screen from child’s bedroom were the most common strategies used by studies that reported successful intervention. Intervention duration of between six to eight weeks was sufficient to produce ST reduction. Face-to-face method was the commonest mode of delivery. Theoretical constructs that aimed at increasing parental self-efficacy, listing outcome expectations, and offering reinforcement of strategies that targeted both the parents and home environment were beneficial in reducing ST. CONCLUSIONS By offering appropriate strategies to parents, a reduction in the amount of ST was observed among the children. Future intervention studies could benefit in exploring culturally adapted strategies, especially in developing countries. Trials of higher quality would also facilitate the drawing of conclusions in future research. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO No: CRD42020199398


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 224
Author(s):  
Josephine Convertini

Argumentation is an important aspect in the field of education because of its impact on learning processes. At the same time, argumentation is a complex activity in terms of cognitive, relational, emotional and social dynamics. In this paper, I investigate and I describe possible difficulties encountered by children during the argumentative process. The study involves 25 preschool children at a kindergarten engaged in three building tasks. The tasks were video-recorded and the argumentative discussions transcribed. For the aim of this paper, I analyze how argumentation are distributed among participants. I select interactions in which participants apparently do not argue or there are differences in the degree of argumentative participation between participants of the same group. I analyze these interactions and moments of impasse in the argumentative steps. The findings show how the simplicity of solving the task (e.g., when children do not encounter any problem in completing the activity) and the children’s self-perception of their competences in solving the task may have an impact on argumentation activities. Moreover, this perception is co-constructed by children within the interaction. The study contributes to the line of research on designing argumentation and highlights the role of the adult in managing children’s interactions.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003151252110252
Author(s):  
Gerda van der Veer ◽  
Erica Kamphorst ◽  
Alexander Minnaert ◽  
Marja Cantell ◽  
Tanja H. Kakebeeke ◽  
...  

Comparing motor assessment tools that are available for young children is important in order to select the most appropriate clinical and research tools. Hence, this study compared motor performance assessed with the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment-2 (ZNA-2) to the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2). The sample consisted of 169 children, aged 3–5 years (87 boys; 51%). We used Pearson correlations to examine relationships between the ZNA-2 and MABC-2 component and total scores. In addition, Pearson correlations were performed between individual fine motor and balance items of the ZNA-2 and MABC-2. Results were that the total scores of the ZNA-2 and MABC-2 correlated moderately ( r = .40, p < .001). Non-significant to moderate correlations were found between components ( r = −.00 to .47) and between individual items of fine motor skills ( r = .04 to .38) and balance ( r = −.12 to .38). Thus, the ZNA-2 and MABC-2 measure partly similar and partly different aspects of motor performance.


1989 ◽  
Vol 68 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1275-1281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah W. Tegano ◽  
James D. Moran

A sample of 188 children in three age groups, preschool, first and third grades, were administered the Patterns Task of the Multidimensional Stimulus Fluency Measure in four test conditions. The conditions systematically varied dimension (three or two) and presentation mode (handling or nonhandling). The fluency measure assessed ideational fluency, popular and original responses, as a measure of creative potential in young children. Analysis showed that dimensionality does not play a major role in the generation of original responses for any grade. However, handling 3-dimensional or 2-dimensional stimuli did appear to facilitate original thinking in preschool children. The use of 2-dimensional photographs which depict dimensionality appeared to compensate for the need to have 3-dimensional stimuli.


Vestnik ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 280-284
Author(s):  
Х. Б. Сарсенбай ◽  
А. Н. Турсынханова ◽  
Б. А. Конысов

Согласно данным ВОЗ, современные эпидемиологические исследования показали, что рецидивирующие респираторные инфекции у детей раннего и дошкольного возраста сохраняются на высоком уровне 10-50% в течение более 40 лет. Конец вакцинации может спровоцировать массовые инфекционные заболевания. Врачи бьют тревогу, что число отказников от обязательной вакцинации растет. Только в каждой поликлинике Алматы 30-40 родителей в год говорят о готовности к профилактике заболеваний. Среди тех, кто категорически отказывается трогать своих детей иголками, - те, кто идет по пути религии. Они считают, что прививка противоречит убеждениям. В последнее время список недовольных групп пополняют и простые жители, которые скептически относятся к квалификации белых. According to WHO, current epidemiological studies have shown that recurrent respiratory infections in young children and preschool children persist at a high level of 10-50% for more than 40 years. The end of vaccination can provoke mass infectious diseases. Doctors are sounding the alarm that the number of refusers from mandatory vaccination is growing. Only in every polyclinic in Almaty, 30-40 parents a year talk about their readiness for disease prevention. Among those who categorically refuse to touch their children with needles are those who follow the path of religion. They believe that vaccination is contrary to their beliefs. Recently, the list of discontented groups has been supplemented by ordinary residents who are skeptical about the qualifications of whites.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 748-749
Author(s):  
Barbara D. Richardson ◽  
Peter E. Cleaton-Jones

The report of Shelton et al. on nursing bottle caries (Pediatrics 59:777, May 1977), which was described as a "devastating condition that may render young children dental cripples," was of great interest to us. We have recently made a study of dental caries and sucrose intake in a series of South African black and white preschool children. The condition so lucidly described by the above workers is identical to the labial caries noted in the canine and incisor teeth in our groups.1 In children under 3 years, the prevalence of labial caries in a black rural group of 109 children was 12.8%; this proportion was not significantly greater than found in 122 white urban children, namely, 9.8%.


2020 ◽  
pp. 73-84
Author(s):  
Ike Lusi Meilina ◽  
Supriyono Koes Handayanto ◽  
Muhardjito Muhardjito

Modelling instruction is systematic instructional activity for constructing and applying scientific knowledge in Physics lesson. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of Modelling instruction with different reasoning abilities on understanding physical concepts by controlling students’ prior knowledge. This research used experimental method with 2x2 factorial design with two Modelling instruction classes and two conventional classes with a total of 176 students. The instrument used was reasoning ability test, prior knowledge test, and physics concept test. It used LCTSR (Lawson’s Classroom Test of Scientific Reasoning) instrument. Prior knowledge test instruments consisted of 25 problems to identify how deep the students understand the topic before they undergo the learning process and physics concept test consisted of 25 problems. Based on the statistical test using two factor Ancova, it proved that there was a significant difference in students’ ability to master the physics concept between using Modelling instruction learning model and using conventional learning model. The result showed that the Modelling instruction increasing conceptual understanding better than conventional learning. There are two important parts in the Modelling instruction that are model development and model deployment. This study also confirms that there are significant differences in understanding the concepts between students of high reasoning ability and low reasoning ability. Students with high reasoning abilities have a better understanding of concepts than students with low reasoning abilities.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Novia ◽  
R. Riandi

<p>This study aims to determine the students’ achievement in answering modified lawson classroom test of scientific reasoning (MLCTSR) questions in overall science teaching and by every aspect of scientific reasoning abilities. There are six aspects related to the scientific reasoning abilities that were measured; they are conservatorial reasoning, proportional reasoning, controlling variables, combinatorial reasoning, probabilistic reasoning, correlational reasoning. The research is also conducted to see the development of scientific reasoning by using levels of inquiry models. The students reasoning ability was measured using the Modified Lawson Classroom Test of Scientific Reasoning (MLCTSR). MLCTSR is a test developed based on the test of scientific reasoning of Lawson’s Classroom Test of Scientific Reasoning (LCTSR) in 2000 which amounted to 12 multiple-choice questions. The research method chosen in this study is descriptive quantitative research methods. The research design used is One Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The population of this study is the entire junior high students class VII the academic year 2014/2015 in one junior high school in Bandung. The samples in this study are one of class VII, which is class VII C. The sampling method used in this research is purposive sampling. The results showed that there is an increase in quantitative scientific reasoning although its value is not big.</p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 420-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Ahn ◽  
Michelle R. Nelson

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the behaviors and social interactions among preschool children and their teachers during food consumption at a daycare facility. Using social cognitive theory, the goal is to identify how role modeling, rules, behaviors and communication shape these young consumers’ health-related food consumption and habits. Design/methodology/approach – This study was conducted in a US daycare facility among preschool children (aged four years) over a three-month period. Qualitative ethnographic methods included participant and non-participant observation of meals and snack-time. Findings – Findings from the observations revealed that teachers’ food socialization styles and social interactions with peers cultivate children’s food consumption. In addition, commensality rules set by the childcare institution also help children learn other valuable behaviors (e.g. table manners and cleaning up). Research limitations/implications – The study was conducted in one location with one age group so the results may not be generalized to all children. As more young children spend time in preschools and daycare centers, the understanding of how these settings and the caregivers and peers influence them becomes more important. Preschool teachers can influence their young students’ food consumption through their actions and words. Training teachers and cultivating educational programs about ways to encourage healthy eating habits could be implemented. Originality/value – The paper offers observations of actual behaviors among young children in a naturalistic setting.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 428-440
Author(s):  
Jianhua Xu ◽  
Pianran Wang ◽  
Brian W. Sturm ◽  
Yingying Wu

Listening to young children’s voices is crucial to improving children’s library services. The first step is unveiling how young children think about the library. Thus, researchers recruited the Mosaic approach including photography, interview, and drawing to explore the features of children’s libraries in children’s perspectives in six libraries in China. The results indicate that first, the children’s library is a “primary third place”. Second, the children’s library is an overlapping of home and society. Third, children can read books in the children’s library, but not just read. Fourth, the children’s library improves children’s awareness as patrons. It is suggested that young patrons already form initial understandings of the library, begin to complain about any problems, and put forward requirements for the library. Additionally, their interpersonal needs should be paid attention to. Therefore, librarians and researchers should respect the rights of children and listen to their voice when designing and providing library services associated with children.


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