Young Children's Analogical Reasoning of Proportion : Effects of Shapes

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  • アナロジーによる幼児の比率理解 : 図形の形状が及ぼす効果
  • アナロジー ニ ヨル ヨウジ ノ ヒリツ リカイ ズケイ ノ ケイジョウ ガ オヨボス コウカ

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Abstract

This study used analogy tasks to measure proportional reasoning in young children. Participants were 100 children from 4 to 6 years of age. The materials were a round pizza, a square chocolate bar and small round pieces of chocolates. Children were shown a base substance, e.g., a whole pizza, from which a proportion was then removed, e.g., a half of the pizza. Children were asked to complete an analogy by removing an equivalent proportion of their target set, e.g., a whole square chocolate bar changed to half a square of chocolates. The experimenter's pizza or chocolates were eight-segmented, and the subject's pizza or chocolates were four-segmented. The borders dividing the segments were clearly visible. The results showed that 4- to 6-year-old children understood proportional equivalence, even when the materials to be matched were not isomorphic. It was found that the tasks were more difficult when the eight-segment circle was presented to the children. Proportional reasoning in young children depended on the shapes. Eight-segment circles were more difficult than eight-segment squares, as children used reasoning to solve proportional analogy tasks.

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