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Relating developments in children's counterfactual thinking and executive functions

Beck, Sarah R.; Riggs, Kevin J.; Gorniak, Sarah L.

Authors

Sarah R. Beck

Sarah L. Gorniak



Abstract

The performance of 93 children aged 3 and 4 years on a battery of different counterfactual tasks was assessed. Three measures: short causal chains, location change counterfactual conditionals, and false syllogisms—but not a fourth, long causal chains—were correlated, even after controlling for age and receptive vocabulary. Children's performance on our counterfactual thinking measure was predicted by receptive vocabulary ability and inhibitory control. The role that domain general executive functions may play in 3- to 4-year olds' counterfactual thinking development is discussed.

Citation

Beck, S. R., Riggs, K. J., & Gorniak, S. L. (2009). Relating developments in children's counterfactual thinking and executive functions. Thinking and Reasoning, 15(4), 337-354. https://doi.org/10.1080/13546780903135904

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Oct 26, 2009
Publication Date 2009-11
Journal Thinking and Reasoning
Print ISSN 1354-6783
Publisher Routledge
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue 4
Pages 337-354
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13546780903135904
Keywords Counterfactual thinking; Imagination; Inhibition; Reasoning; Working memory
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/405417
Publisher URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13546780903135904