Phases of transition in cognitive development: evidence from the domain of spatial representation

Data on changes in children's map drawing ability are used to examine 3 hypotheses concerning the relationship of level mixture to developmental change as proposed by Damon in a recent study of social reasoning: (1) that high total mixture precedes change, (2) that low total mixture precedes change, and (3) that high positive mixture (i.e., that at stages above the mode) precedes change. Further predictions are derived from our 6-phase model of transition; these are compared and contrasted with conclusions reached by Damon. Using Damon's approach, we replicate his finding that high positive mixture precedes model advance. More detailed analyses of 2 separate groups as suggested by the transitions model, however, show that all 3 types of mixture precede developmental change, albeit different types of change within each group.