D.P. Smidts|Rani Jacobs|Vicki Anderson
The Object Classification Task for Children (OCTC): A Measure of Concept Generation and Mental Flexibility in Early Childhood
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
study development concept generation mental flexibility investigated 84 australian children 3 7 years age using object classification task children octc newly developed executive function test use young children task adapted concept generation test levine stuss milberg 1995 concept generation test children jacobs anderson harvey 2001 children asked categorize 6 plastic toys according 3 predetermined groupings ie color size function test included 3 performance levels providing increasing levels structure child findings octc show meaningful agerelated changes performance across age groups older children less dependent additional structure complete task comparison younger children furthermore findings study suggest ability generate concepts emerges 3 4 years age continuing develop beyond age 7 years developmental spurt cognitive flexibility observed around 4 5 years age refinement capacity occurring 5 7 years age results suggest octc useful measure conceptual reasoning skills early childhood