DO CATEGORIZATION PROCESSES ORIGINATE FROM ELEMENT SUBSTITUTIONS WITHIN A SCRIPT

Is organizing into categories strictly related to grouping elements th at can be substituted for each other within a script? This hypothesis by Nelson (1986) was tested using an original drawing choice task whic h enabled us to distinguish between thematic choices, a slot-filler or ganization within a script, and taxonomic choices. Three groups of chi ldren were tested, aged on the average 4 and a half, 5 and a half, and 6 and a half. The ''filiation'' hypothesis was tested by analyzing th e distribution of choices in each age group. Nelson's hypothesis was n ot verified: elements that could be substituted within a script were n ot chosen frequently by the younger children. The process of substitut ing elements within a script was observed for man-made objects only. T his seems to be an indication that Nelson's hypotheses pertain to the formation of categories of man-made objects, which children are more l ikely to know through their actions.