Physical knowledge of sugar water solutions: Cross-cultural data. Cross-Cultural Data

Tested the hypothesis, based on Piaget's (1970, 1971) theories, that children's understanding of sugar water solutions may progress through universal stages: from nonpreservation to preservation to liquefaction to atomism. The sample consisted of 270 South African children drawn from 3 cultural groups and ranging in age from 4 yrs 1 mo to 14 yrs 1 mo. Ss watched a demonstration in which a sugar lump was dissolved in water. Then, using structured interviews, their understanding of this phenomenon was explored. Results generally confirm the hypothesized developmental sequence. Moreover, because the sequence was consistent across cultural groups, the claim that physical knowledge evolves through universal stages was supported. However, progression of knowledge development did not unequivocally lead to the concept of atomism, and there was some (tentative) evidence of cross-cultural differences in the chronology of physical knowledge progression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)