Graphic representational development can be assessed by whether children can innovate canonical drawings, attesting to their ability to depict familiar subjects in different ways. Recently, cognitive researchers have focused on paths and rates of the development of representational flexibility. According to a prominent model by Karmiloff-Smith (RRM, 1990) , representational flexibility is acquired with a marked discontinuity at 8-9 years, when routine drawings are overcome once and for all. However, van Sommers (1984) suggested that continuity models fit better flexibility development, and that pictorial conservatism coexist with flexibility instead (1983) . The present study focuses on the relationship between conservatism and flexibility during development, and analyses it overtly. 75 children (5, 7, 9, 11 year-olds) were asked to draw two similar and two different houses (administration order balanced across the sample). Drawings were coded with a 5 point scale for 6 aspects (e.g. house’s structure and width, details). Results show that linear trends fit flexibility development in all aspects, and that in each aspect flexibility increases at different developmental rates. Overall results seem to imply that flexibility does coexist with conservatism rather than replacing it once and for all. Implications of such results are discussed on the background of the van Sommers’ and Karmiloff-Smith’s models.
DE FABRITIIS, P. (2009). Balance between representational conservatism and flexibility: a developmental perspective. Intervento presentato a: XVI ESCoP Conference, Krakow, September 2-5 2009, Krakow.
Balance between representational conservatism and flexibility: a developmental perspective
DE FABRITIIS, PAOLA
2009
Abstract
Graphic representational development can be assessed by whether children can innovate canonical drawings, attesting to their ability to depict familiar subjects in different ways. Recently, cognitive researchers have focused on paths and rates of the development of representational flexibility. According to a prominent model by Karmiloff-Smith (RRM, 1990) , representational flexibility is acquired with a marked discontinuity at 8-9 years, when routine drawings are overcome once and for all. However, van Sommers (1984) suggested that continuity models fit better flexibility development, and that pictorial conservatism coexist with flexibility instead (1983) . The present study focuses on the relationship between conservatism and flexibility during development, and analyses it overtly. 75 children (5, 7, 9, 11 year-olds) were asked to draw two similar and two different houses (administration order balanced across the sample). Drawings were coded with a 5 point scale for 6 aspects (e.g. house’s structure and width, details). Results show that linear trends fit flexibility development in all aspects, and that in each aspect flexibility increases at different developmental rates. Overall results seem to imply that flexibility does coexist with conservatism rather than replacing it once and for all. Implications of such results are discussed on the background of the van Sommers’ and Karmiloff-Smith’s models.
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