In a Study by O'Neill and Gopnik (1991), 4- and 5-Year-Olds

question 4

Multiple Choice

In a study by O'Neill and Gopnik (1991) , 4- and 5-year-olds were able to describe what was in a tunnel and how they knew what was in the tunnel. Three-year-olds were not as able to identify the sources of their knowledge as evidenced by which of the following?

• A) The children could not identify what was in the tunnel.
• B) Many children identified a ball in the tunnel when there was none.
• C) Some children identified a ball as blue after feeling it but not seeing it.
• D) Some children reported seeing things in the tunnel that were not there.

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Definitions:

Mental Set

A psychological tendency to approach problems in a certain way due to past experiences and what has worked previously.

Heuristic Reasoning

A method of problem-solving based on practical, experiential approaches and shortcuts rather than systematic logic.

Evolutionary Processes

Natural mechanisms that drive the genetic changes in populations over time, leading to species adaptation and evolution.

Heuristic Fallacies

Errors or biases in judgment or decision-making, arising from the use of mental shortcuts or heuristics.