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Children's working understanding of knowledge sources : confidence in knowledge gained from testimony

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Robinson, Elizabeth J., Haigh, S. N. and Nurmsoo, Erika. (2008) Children's working understanding of knowledge sources : confidence in knowledge gained from testimony. Cognitive Development, Vol.23 (No.1). pp. 105-118. ISSN 0885-2014

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2007.05.001

Abstract

In three experiments children aged between 3 and 5 years (N = 38; 52; 94; mean ages 3;7 to 5;2) indicated their confidence in their knowledge of the identity of a hidden toy. With the exception of some 3-year-olds, children revealed working understanding of their knowledge source by showing high confidence when they had seen or felt the toy, and lower confidence when they had been told its identity by an apparently well-informed speaker, especially when the speaker subsequently doubted the adequacy of his access to the toy. After a 2-minute delay, 3-to 4- year olds, unlike 4- to 5-year-olds, failed to see the implications of the speaker’s doubt about his access.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Knowledge, Theory of, Uncertainty
Journal or Publication Title:	Cognitive Development
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0885-2014
Date:	22 May 2008
Volume:	Vol.23
Number:	No.1
Page Range:	pp. 105-118
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.cogdev.2007.05.001
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC)
Grant number:	RES000220825
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/57