EFFECTS OF TASKS AND AGES ON CONCEPTUAL O RGANIZATION OF TRIADS

The relationships between target and taxonomic or thematic stimuli of 70 triads were assessed, employing rating scales and factor analysis. Four types of triads were constructed: four triads with high taxonomic and high thematic relations to the taget stimuli (H-H), those with hi gh taxonomic and low thematic relations (H-L), those with low taxonomi c and high thematic relations (L-H1, L-H2). These triads were presente d to 5-year-olds and adults. Adults responded more taxonomically than children in all triads. Children responded less thematically in H-L th an in other three kinds of triads, whereas adults responded more taxon omically in H-H and H-L than in other kinds of triads. The results sug gest that (a) children are susceptible to thematic relations, while ad ults are to taxonomic relations, and (b) knowledge of the concept name s common to taxonomic pairs are important to facilitate taxonomic orga nization.