THEMES, TAXONS, AND TRIAL TYPES IN CHILDRENS MATCHING-TO-SAMPLE - METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Five experiments were conducted in which preschool children (29-73 mon ths) matched pictures of common objects. Each trial consisted of a sam ple and two comparison pictures (all three together defined as a trial type) in which the sample was related to one comparison taxonomically and to the other thematically. The intent of each experiment was to r eplicate results in the literature in which young children more readil y relate objects thematically than taxonomically. Instead, in all five experiments the children more often selected the taxonomic comparison s. These results occurred independently of age, gender, instructions, order of the trial types, nonspecific performance feedback, the presen ce of a third comparison unrelated to the sample, and the level of the taxonomy (superordinate vs basic). Instructions to select a compariso n that was the same as the sample increased responses to the taxonomic comparisons. Comparison selection in this task relates both to the in dividual trial type and the individual subject. (C) 1998 Academic Pres s.