Structural Alignment and Linguistic Contrast Help Children Learn a Key Principle of Spatial Construction.

ABSTRACT: Spatial representation and reasoning are important in cognition, yet they are challenging for children. Research has shown that comparison can support learning about common spatial structure and that using common labels can facilitate this process. Here, we show that a comparable pattern holds for learning about differences. That is, contrastive labels can promote comparison-based learning of key spatial differences. In two experiments, 5- to 7-year-old children were asked to learn a key engineering principle-namely, that diagonal braces confer stability in building structures. Two factors were varied between subjects: the alignability of the training exemplars, and whether a contrastive label was used. Learning was assessed through a variety of transfer tasks, both immediately and after a

SUBMITTER: Zheng YS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12741211 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature