A basic conservation continuum is defined (number, mass, length). Scores on the continuum range from 0 to 9 and define a Guttman reproducibility of .94. The continuum provides numerical scores that document individual differences both quantitatively and qualitatively. The continuum is validated using four nearly equal groups of children, a total of 65, from two distinct sociocultural settings. The young children from an Appalachian sociocultural setting showed suppressed conservation scores. For the other three groups the scores were qualitatively but not quantitatively different. Qualitative differences are discussed and the possible effects of schooling are noted.
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