TY - JOUR

T1 - Another country, another city

T2 - Development of concept typicality in preschool and primary school children

AU - Wilberg-Neidhardt, Sylwia

AU - von Petzinger, Stephanie

PY - 2003/1

Y1 - 2003/1

N2 - Exemplars of geographical concepts are perceptually less accessible than are exemplars of those concepts which have usually been studied with young children, such as fruit, vehicles, or animals. This study explores the way in which children from late preschool age into second grade develop an adult-like concept of "town/city" (same word in German) and "country". Altogether 205 children participated, 114 six-year-olds from preschools, and 45 seven- and 46 eight-year-olds from grades 1 and 2. They were asked to name as many other cities, and as many other countries as they know. In accordance with our hypotheses, the children reported only few exemplars of geographical concepts, two countries and one city in average. There was only little increase in the number of different nominations between preschool and school, and hardly any increase from grade 1 to grade 2. The correctness of nominations, however, increased significantly. The concept of "country" appeared to be easier that that of "city", as an analysis of nomination errors showed. It seems that both concepts differentiate from a more global geographical concept with "country" preceding "city".

AB - Exemplars of geographical concepts are perceptually less accessible than are exemplars of those concepts which have usually been studied with young children, such as fruit, vehicles, or animals. This study explores the way in which children from late preschool age into second grade develop an adult-like concept of "town/city" (same word in German) and "country". Altogether 205 children participated, 114 six-year-olds from preschools, and 45 seven- and 46 eight-year-olds from grades 1 and 2. They were asked to name as many other cities, and as many other countries as they know. In accordance with our hypotheses, the children reported only few exemplars of geographical concepts, two countries and one city in average. There was only little increase in the number of different nominations between preschool and school, and hardly any increase from grade 1 to grade 2. The correctness of nominations, however, increased significantly. The concept of "country" appeared to be easier that that of "city", as an analysis of nomination errors showed. It seems that both concepts differentiate from a more global geographical concept with "country" preceding "city".

KW - preschoolers

KW - primary school children

KW - concept acquisition

KW - geographical concepts

KW - Psychology

UR - https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000184158500003

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 50

SP - 250

EP - 257

JO - Psychologie in Erziehung und Unterricht

JF - Psychologie in Erziehung und Unterricht

SN - 0342-183X

IS - 3

ER -