The complexity preference of Head Start and nursery school children was assessed using both familiar geometric forms and random polygons. Before the Head Start program began the Head Start children exhibited a preference for lower complexity with geometric forms than did the nursery school children. After the program there was no difference in complexity preference with these forms. The two groups of children never differed on preference for random polygons.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CoombsC. H.A theory of data. New York: Wiley, 1964.
2.
DemberW. N.EarlR. W.Analysis of exploratory, manipulatory, and curiosity behavior. Psychological Review, 1957, 64, 91–96.
3.
HicksR.DockstaderS.Cultural deprivation and preschool children's preference for complex and novel stimuli. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1968, 27, 1321–1322.
MunsingerH.KessenW.KessenM.Age and uncertainty: Developmental variations in preference for variability. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 1964, 1, 1–15.
6.
SackettG.Effects of rearing conditions on the behavior of rhesus monkeys. Child Development, 1965, 36, 855–868.
7.
VitzP. C.Affect as a function of stimulus variation. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1966, 71, 74–79.