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The Effect of Executive Function on Biological Reasoning in Young Children: An Individual Differences Study
Author(s) -
Zaitchik Deborah,
Iqbal Yeshim,
Carey Susan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12145
Subject(s) - psychology , executive functions , working memory , developmental psychology , cognition , set (abstract data type) , construct (python library) , variance (accounting) , intelligence quotient , test (biology) , analysis of variance , verbal reasoning , short term memory , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , medicine , biology , programming language , paleontology , accounting , computer science , business
There is substantial variance in the age at which children construct and deploy their first explicit theory of biology. This study tests the hypothesis that this variance is due, at least in part, to individual differences in their executive function ( EF ) abilities. A group of 79 boys and girls aged 5–7 years (with a mean age of 6½ years) were presented with two test batteries: (a) a biology battery that probed their understanding of life, death, and body functions and (b) an EF battery that tested working memory, inhibition, and set‐shifting skills. Individuals' EF scores significantly predict their biology scores, even after controlling for age and verbal IQ .