Young Children's Problem-solving : The role of representation and evaluation

아동의 문제해결능력 : 표상과 평가능력의 역할

The present study examined preschooler's (3-5yrs) representation and evaluation skills in a puzzle completion task. The puzzle contained panels of four children dressed for each seacon and the key to success was using a body scheme to reconstruct the panels (head, torso, legs, feet and sky on top). Baseline data (Study 1) revealed a developmental pattern of increasing bydy scheme representation along with more careful attention to season consitent construction. Spontaneous verbalization also shifted from more guiding statements (where'the head?) to move evaluative statements (this isn't right). Study 2 examined different intervention techniques for increasing representation (verbal laveling) and evaluative processes (error detection practice), along with a control group that had unassisted practice. Three year olds benefited from verbal labeling, four year olds from both types of training. Verbalizations also showed appropriated shifts toward increasing evaluation, particularly for the older children. These findings are discussed in terms of a developmental hypothesis that representation precedes evaluation skills and that training techniques should take into account the relative balance between representation and evaluation skills in the individual for the task at hand.