Mechanisms of Change in the Development of Cognitive Structures

KUHN, DEANNA. Mechanisms of Change in the Development of Cognitive Structures. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1972, 43, 833-844. The study is concerned with the mechanisms in terms of which the developmental transformation from 1 cognitive structure to another occurs. An equilibration model of change (Piaget 1967) is contrasted with an alternative, imitation model. An experiment is presented in which it is attempted to induce change by presenting 3-8-year-old children with experimental models, the structure of which reflects differing degrees of relationship to the child's own, previously assessed structural level. The domain is the stage sequence in the child's concept of class and classification. Results support the equilibration model in that what change occurs appears to take place in terms of an invariant sequence of progressively more advanced stages.