PROTAGONIST, THEME, AND GOAL OBJECT - EFFECTS OF SURFACE-FEATURES ON ANALOGICAL TRANSFER

This study examined the effects of the similarity of protagonist, them atic context, and goal object on choice of solution principles in anal ogical transfer. Kindergartners and second-graders listened to five st ories before solving a problem. In the experimental condition, four st ories included workable solution principles, and one of each of these included the same protagonist, the same goal object, and the same them atic context as the target problem. Children in the experimental condi tion at both ages produced more solutions than children in a control g roup. Kindergartners, but not second-graders, were particularly likely to transfer a solution associated with the same goal object, and to a lesser extent, same protagonist and story theme, compared to a soluti on in a source story sharing no surface feature with the target proble m. The results indicate that younger children are more likely to rely on salient surface features whereas older children flexibly map underl ying structure independently of these features.