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Abstract

The performance of 114 New Zealand children (60 of Europen descent and 54 of Polynesian descent), half of whom initially performed at a nonconserving level and half at a partially conserving level on spatial relations tasks, was examined following their interaction with another child of either the same or different cognitive level. Nonconservers gained more benefit from interaction relative to no interaction than did partial conservers. Polynesian nonconservers played more pasive roles in interaction, and the extent to which both Polynesian and Pakeha nonconservers participated actively in the interactions depended on the cognitive level of their partners. Both the extent of participation and the presentation of more advanced solutions affected posttest performance for the nonconservers, but not for partial conservers.

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The Effect of Social Interaction on Conservation of Spatial Relations

Abstract

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