Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

4-25-2025

Keywords

child psychology, children, evidence, genuine understanding, incomplete understanding, insight, intermediate mental models, learning, mental models (conceptual world framework), postulated theory, progress, research area, researchers, Stella Vosniadou, point in time, understanding of the world, William Brewer, world function

Disciplines

Child Psychology | Developmental Psychology

Abstract

Researchers in the area of child psychology have taken an interest in how children revise their understanding of the world. Stella Vosniadou and William Brewer (1991) postulated a theory called mental models, which provides insight into how genuine understanding is attained. The postulated mental models are created and then tested to build up one’s understanding of how the world works. Additionally, this theory implies there may be points in time where there is some understanding of a concept, yet it is still incomplete. Vosniadou and Brewer wanted to explore these intermediate mental models and develop evidence of understanding in progress.

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