The Experimental Research Of Pupils' Working Memory And Counterfactual Reasoning

The thesis tended to explore the relationships between working memory and counterfactual reason through behavior experiment, especially focusing on how the components of working memory have influenced in counterfactual reason. It included three experiments, that was the third, forth, fifth grade as the subjects. Experiment explored the relationships between working memory span and counterfactual reason. Experiment 2 selected 80 students from every grade in addition. One group (the control group) were asked to complete counterfactual reason only, the others (the experimental ones) were required not only to take counterfactual reasoning tests (the primary task), but also to complete and task (the secondary tasks: articulatory suppression, tapping, random interval repetition ),which could interfere with individual component of working memory. In order to discuss the effect of the components of working memory in counterfactual reasoning. Using 20 students from every grade in addition as subjects, experiment 3 explored the relationships between central executive's four components and counterfactual reasoning deeply.The main conclusions are as follows:Firstly, there are significant differences between high and low working memory span on counterfactual reasoning performance and speed. There are significant differences among three grades on counterfactual reasoning performance and speed. The performance of counterfactual thinking is mainly dependent on working memory span. The speed of counterfactual thinking is both dependent on working memory span and grade.Secondly, three components of working memory are all involved in the solution process of counterfactual reasoning! But the level of participated is different. The visual-spatial sketchpad plays a major role in the consequent counterfactual reason, the phonological loop has a lesser role, and the central executive has the least role. In the forward counterfactual reasoning, the visual-spatial sketchpad plays a major role, the central executive has a lesser role; the phonological loop has the least role. In forward counterfactual reasoning speed! There exists interaction between grades and groups. Simple main effect indicates tranches exist difference on every grade,and grades exist difference on every group.Thirdly, with performance as indicator, the consequent counterfactual reasoning is negative related with inhibition, transformation. The forward counterfactual reasoning is negative related with inhibition, and positive related with updating. Inhibition can predict counterfactual reasoning. With speed as indicator, the consequent counterfactual reasoning is positive related with transformation. The forward counterfactual reasoning is positive related with inhibition, transformation. It is negative related with updating and coordination. Transformation can predict counterfactual reasoning.