Core study: Conservation

OCR core study: Conservation

Samuel and Bryant (1984) Asking only one question

Findings: The table below shows the mean number of errors for each child (rounded to the nearest whole number). An error is a failure to give a conserving response.

Conclusions - Younger children did cope better with the one question task but there were still age differences.

Criticisms - The younger children may still have felt intimidated by the experomental situation and been less able to cope.

Revision question

  • a) In the study by Samuel and Bryant on conservation, in the ‘one question condition’ children are asked a question about number, mass or volume, only after they have seen the substance changed in front of them. Identify the two other conditions of this experiment. [2]

     
  • b) In addition to these conditions, two other factors affected the children’s ability to conserve. Identify both these factors. [2] (June 2001, Core Studies 1, question 3)
Category
Core Studies from Developmental Psychology
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