To examine the relationship between visual attention in infancy and the stimulus variables of contour and numerosity, 2- and 4-month-olds were placed in three experimental conditions. The results showed that contour and numerosity, acting in tandem, are responsible for the age-complexity shift observed by previous investigators of infant…

The hypothesis that perceptual development proceeds from less to greater dimensional separability was tested by giving a speeded classification task to first and fourth graders. Results supported the hypothesis that development proceeds toward greater flexibility of attention rather than simply toward increasing separability. (Author/DB)

This study examined the relation between number conservation and attention to number, density, and length or area in 86 kindergarteners and 18 third graders. (Author/SB)

Cardinal-ordinal abilities and attentional preferences of kindergarten nonconservers, kindergarten conservers, and third grade conservers of number were compared by employing standarized versions of Piagetian cardinal-ordinal tasks and a triad preference task. (Author/JMB)

As children grow older they show an increasing preference for classifying objects on the basis of shape rather than color. To clarify the nature of this "dimension preference," children of ages 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 years were given a method of triads test of dimension preferences, followed (after a week's delay) by a component selection task. The most…

Coordination and integration of class information was examined using a multidimensional similarity judgment task in which four- and nine-year-old children rated the similarity of pairs of stimuli sharing either one or two attribute values. (Author/MP)

A visual search task was used to assess developmental changes in elementary school children's selective attention to specified portions of a visual display. (Author/SB)

Results show that both kindergarten nonconservers and kindergarten conservers found height most salient. Third-grade conservers found quantity most salient but could easily attend to height and width. (Author/CB)

To investigate two measures which have been used to assess children's attention to stimulus dimensions, component selection, and dimension preference, both measures were administered to 38 3 1/2 to 5-year-olds and 20 5- to 6 1/2-year-olds. Seven to ten days after the dimension preference task was given. the component selection measure was…

Results suggest that selective attention is a multifaceted skill, with development of its parts progressing at different rates. (Author)

Two experiments explored the nature of perceptual development in 5- and 10-year olds and adults. The primary finding was that preassessed salience significantly influenced 5-year olds' ability to discriminate two objects, while salience did not affect 10-year olds' or adults' response times. Results showed that salience effects in perceptual…

This paper examines the concept of decalage from two cognitive-change positions (structures of logical thought and attentional and verbal mediators) and proposes an alternative explanation for decalage from a perceptual-change point of view. The term decalage is used to summarize the relation between differences in performance of various age…