Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
07:36
An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Parental reports of children's scale errors in everyday life
Karl S Rosengren1, Isabel T Gutiérrez, Kathy N Anderson
1Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. k-rosengren@northwestern.edu
Child Development
|November 26, 2009
Summary
Most young children exhibit scale errors, attempting actions on objects too small for them. This common developmental behavior occurs frequently between 13 and 21 months of age.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Behavior Studies
- Cognitive Development
Background:
- Scale errors are observed when children attempt actions on objects unsuitable for the action due to size.
- Understanding the prevalence and nature of these errors provides insight into early cognitive and motor development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and characteristics of scale errors in young children within their daily environments.
- To determine how common scale errors are during a specific developmental window.
Main Methods:
- Parental reports were collected over a six-month period.
- Data focused on children aged 13-21 months at the onset of observed scale errors.
Main Results:
- 30 parents participated, with 29 reporting at least one scale error.
- An average of 3.2 scale errors were reported per child during the study period.
Conclusions:
- The findings indicate that scale errors are a highly prevalent behavior in early childhood.
- Most children between 13 and 21 months of age are likely to experience scale errors.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Random and Systematic Errors
Scientists always try their best to record measurements with the utmost accuracy and precision. However, sometimes errors do occur. These errors can be random or systematic. Random errors are observed due to the inconsistency or fluctuation in the measurement process, or variations in the quantity itself that is being measured. Such errors fluctuate from being greater than or less than the true value in repeated measurements. Consider a scientist measuring the length of an earthworm using a...
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.
03:37Uncertainty in Measurement: Accuracy and Precision
Scientists typically make repeated measurements of a quantity to ensure the quality of their findings and to evaluate both the precision and the accuracy of their results. Measurements are said to be precise if they yield very similar results when repeated in the same manner. A measurement is considered accurate if it yields a result that is very close to the true or the accepted value. Precise values agree with each other; accurate values agree with a true value.
01:19Errors and Mistakes in Surveying
Errors and mistakes in surveying refer to inaccuracies in measurements and data recording. The errors are deviations from the actual value caused by human sensory limitations, equipment flaws, or environmental effects. These errors are typically unintentional and can result from the inherent imperfections in the instruments used, atmospheric conditions, or the observer’s inability to perceive exact measurements. On the other hand, mistakes are caused by the surveyor's lack of attention,...
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.