Toddlers do not preferentially transmit generalizable information to others
Didar Karadağ1, Marina Bazhydai1, Gert Westermann1
1Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Developmental Science
|February 8, 2024
Summary
Two-year-old children do not selectively transmit generalizable information when teaching others. Toddlers demonstrated no preference for sharing generalizable over non-generalizable information, indicating developing selectivity in information transmission.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Child Development
Background:
- Children selectively transmit information based on content and context.
- Older children (4-7 years) preferentially share generalizable information in teaching scenarios.
- Toddlers (2 years) can differentiate generalizable from non-generalizable information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether 2-year-old children selectively transmit generalizable information over non-generalizable information.
- To explore the development of selectivity in toddlers' information transmission.
- To understand toddlers' sensitivity to information generalizability.
Main Methods:
- A behavioral study involving 2-year-old children.
- Children interacted with novel boxes with generalizable and non-generalizable outcomes.
- Transmission phase: children demonstrated toy functions to an uninformed adult.
Main Results:
- Children did not show a preference for transmitting generalizable information.
- No significant difference was found in transmitting generalizable versus non-generalizable information.
- Toddlers did not selectively share generalizable knowledge when teaching.
Conclusions:
- Two-year-olds' selectivity in information transmission is still developing.
- Toddlers may not yet associate generalizability with the need for selective teaching.
- Further research is needed on the developmental trajectory of sensitivity to information generalizability.
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