Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
PulseExploreClubsResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeClubsExplore
August 27, 2026Developmental ScienceOpen Access

Longitudinal Relations Between Representational and Advanced Theory of Mind and Scientific Reasoning From Ages 4 to 7

View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Authors

DSDavid M. SobelÖKÖzgün KöksalCOChristopher Osterhaus

Discussion

Loading...

Member takes

Overview

Longitudinal study demonstrates that early theory of mind predicts scientific reasoning in young children, highlighting the role of representational development in early cognitive skills.

Key Points

  • To evaluate how representational and advanced theory of mind relate to the emergence and longitudinal development of scientific reasoning from early childhood to early elementary school.
  • Longitudinal assessment of children across three developmental time points at ages 4, 5.5, and 7.5 years.
  • Administered age-appropriate batteries evaluating scientific reasoning, representational and advanced theory of mind, executive function, and language ability.
  • Theory of mind performance at each age was significantly associated with concurrent scientific reasoning skills.
  • Representational theory of mind at age 4 predicted scientific reasoning directly at age 5.5 and indirectly at age 7.5 via advanced theory of mind, independent of executive function and language ability.

Cite This Study

Sobel et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fea3310c91c1e92622547https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.70270
View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Relations Between the Development of False Belief and Scientific Reasoning in Turkish Preschoolers2026 · 1 citations
  2. 2Longitudinal Relations Among Theory of Mind, Advanced Theory of Mind, and Executive Function From Ages Four to Seven2026 · 4 citations
  3. 3The developmental relation of evidence-based argumentation and scientific experimentation skills in early childhood: A 3-year longitudinal study2026
  4. 4An ability to integrate probability and epistemic reasoning is later-developing than either in isolation2024
  5. 5Understanding possibility through action: Young children’s modal reasoning in agentive contexts2026