Children’s selective information transmission in STEM and non-STEM domains

Abstract

Two studies examined what information American children ages 4–6 (n = 120; 56 boys; 64 girls; 81% White) transmit to a naïve listener after hearing testimony from previously accurate and inaccurate informants. The informants provided conflicting information in four domains (physical science, life science, mathematics, and object labels). Children chose one informant’s testimony to transmit (Study 1) or had an open-ended opportunity to transmit information (Study 2). Children transmitted information from the accurate informant in 73% of forced-choice trials. However, they only transmitted the accurate informant’s testimony in 40% of open-ended trials. Thus, although children selectively endorse information received from accurate informants, they may not necessarily transmit information received from a previously accurate informant to a naïve listener.