The Age-Related Changes of Performances and Strategies in Size and Amount Comparison

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine age-related changes of performances and strategies in size and amount comparison in children. Kindergarteners and pupils in lower grades of an elementary school were shown pairs of quadrangles or rectangular solids, and were asked to indicate which one was larger. Results showed that the percentage of correct answers in size comparison tasks varies across age groups in u-shaped manner, whereas those for amount comparison tasks increased in a linearly manner. Analyses of comparison cues children used showed that the kindergarteners and first graders were unable to integrate differences in multiple dimensions and utilized the differences as separated cues in size and amount comparison. However, second and third graders could integrate and utilized the differences in multiple dimensions as comparison cues. These results support the view suggested by Bausano & Jefferey (1975) that 3-year-olds should outperform 4 or 5-year-olds in size comparison because 3-year-olds tend to compare size utilizing the differences in the longest dimension as comparison cues.