Orit Lahav, Alan Apter, Navah Ratzon
A comparison of the effects of directive visuomotor intervention versus nondirective supportive intervention in kindergarten and elementary school children
Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)
cups task widely adopted forcedchoice paradigm comparative studies inferential reasoning exclusion task subjects presented two cups one surreptitiously baited empty cup shaken interior shown possible infer exclusion alternative cup contains reward present study extends existing body comparative work include human children homo sapiens like chimpanzees pan troglodytes tested equipment nearidentical procedures children aged three five made apparent inferences using visual auditory information although youngest children showed leastdeveloped ability auditory modality however unlike chimpanzees children ages used causally irrelevant information control test designed examine possibility apparent auditory inferences product contingency learning duplicate cups test nevertheless childrens ability reason exclusion corroborated performance novel verbal disjunctive syllogism test found preliminary evidence consistent suggestion children used causallogical understanding reason exclusion cups task subsequently treated duplicate cups information symbolic communicative rather causal implications future comparative research discussed