Developmental Changes in the Location of Form Discrimination Cues

Abstract

Two experiments are reported on age changes in form discrimination cues. In the first, a pilot study for another investigation, a drop was noted between ages 5 and 6 yr. in children's ability to discriminate among five irregular pentagons. In an attempt to clarify this unexpected finding, a dimensional analysis of the stimulus attributes of the pentagons was undertaken. This led to several hypotheses, tested in the second experiment. The results of that experiment with children aged 3½ to 7½ yr. suggested that the bottom attributes of the stimuli were the most salient features for all ages. As the children became older, however, a top-to-bottom scanning process appeared to increase in importance. Suggestions for further research were made.