What response times tell of children's behavior on the balance scale task.

Full Abstract

Analysis of accuracy of responses to balance scale problems gives a global idea of the cognitive processes that underlie problem-solving behavior on this task. We show that response times (RTs) provide additional detailed information about the kind and duration of these processes. We derive predictions about the RTs from Siegler's (1981) model for the balance scale task, including the counterintuitive prediction that young adults are slower than children in solving particular balance scale problems. The predictions were tested in a study in which 191 6- to 22-year-old participants were presented with a computerized balance scale task. RTs were analyzed with regression models. In addition to qualitative differences between items, we also modeled quantitative differences between items in the regression models. Analyses supported the predictions and provided additional knowledge on the rules. Rule II was reformulated as a rule that always involves the encoding, but not always the correct application of the distance cue. RTs provided evidence for the use of a buggy-rule and not an addition-rule. Finally, a relation between rule inconsistency and increased RT was found.

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Author information

Author/s: van der Maas, Han L J (HL); Jansen, Brenda R J (BR);

Affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, Amsterdam 1018 WB, The Netherlands. hvandermaas@fmg.uva.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: Journal of experimental child psychology (J Exp Child Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jun; vol 85 (issue 2) : pp 141-77

Dates: Created 2003/06/11; Completed 2003/10/29; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12799166, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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