The Role of Central Conceptual Structures in the Development of Children's Thought

by Robbie Case, Yukari Okamoto

This monograph presents a new theory of conceptual development, the main construct of which is the "central conceptual structure." These structures are defined as networks of semantic nodes and relations which represent children's core knowledge and which can be applied to a full range of tasks in a given domain. Comprehensive cross-cultural testing of model structures and a six-year program of instructional research show how the transformation of these central conceptual structures have a powerful influence on subsequent knowledge acquisition. The extensive support that the authors provide for their theory will interest cognitive scientists, educational psychologists, and child development specialists.

225 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1995

Reviews

[Stuart Macalpine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A technical look at updating Piaget's developmental stages. Nice exploration in one section of the "inside out" model of child development and the Bruner 'outside in' model - truth seems to be a bit of both, and that experiences of being taught number and narrative have a very strong impact on other cognitive developments. Overall, a bit technical and niche for my purposes.