Development of the Probability Concept in Children

To provide additional information concerning Piaget's theory of the development of the probability concept, non-verbal and verbal tests were given to 112 Ss, 8 male and 8 female at each age from 3 through 9 years. The results supported Piaget's interpretation of the acquisition of this concept as a developmental phenomenon. It was also shown that the behavior of preoperational children is frequently related to event probabilities and that non-verbal behavior consistent with event probabilities precedes the ability to verbalize the probability concept or the relation between the child's behavior and event probabilities. No significant sex diference was found in development of this concept.