An Experimental Research On Children Acquiring Conjunctive Category By The Approaches Of Implicit Learning And Componential Analysis

Reflective abstraction is viewed as the genetic mechanism of logico-mathematical category of individuals in Piaget's theory. It is one of the important concepts of Piaget's genetic epistemology, but in Piagetian works, it has not been described and demonstrated elaborately. This is a defect or weakness of Piaget's theory.This experimental research aims at the mechanism by which the individual acquires the conjunctive category. The author applies the paradigm of implicit learning study and componential analysis here. Firstly, the implicit learning of a conjunctive rule involved in picture materials has been investigated to confirm the existence of the reflective abstraction. Secondly, the approach of componential analysis has been used to explore the mechanism and the nature of the reflective abstraction from internal cognitive processing.According to the scores of pre-test, the author selected 100 about 7-years-old children as subjects, who are at the transition from the pre-operational stage to the concrete operational stage. The researcher asked them to observe some pictures to learn the conjunctive rule implicitly or explicitly. At the same time, 30 12-years-old children are asked to complete "conjunctive tasks" which are presented according to the approach of componential analysis. Based on their data, the author built an experimental componential model of "conjunctive tasks". In terms of the experimental model, the author analyzed the mental processing of those subjects who received the treats of learning.The basic experimental materials are some geometrical pictures, which include three attributes: color (red, yellow, green, and blue), shape (triangle, square, hexagon, and circle) and size (big and small). According to certain conjunctive rule, the author combined these pictures into the experimental materials, including 2-dimensioned, 3-dimensioned material for learning, test, and transference test. All the materiaJs are presented on the screen of computer.The results of this study suggest: (1) both of the implicit learning and reflective abstraction are the main mechanism of acquiring the conjunctive category for children. (2) To some extent, implicit learning and reflective abstraction are the different description of the same mental mechanism at different levels. (3) Some approaches of contemporary cognitive psychology, such as implicit learning and componential analysis, can help to develop the study of Piaget's theory.