Nonverbal information storage in children and developmental information processing channel capacity

Abstract

The present study was designed to test Glanzer and Clark's “verbal loop hypothesis” using children at various developmental levels. In particular, this study attempted to test whether the information output from “pure” verbal tasks is greater than from “pure” nonverbal tasks. A 3×2×2 multivariate complete factorial design was employed where Age (5, 8, 12), Input (Visual, Verbal), and Output (Reconstruction, Verbal Description) were main factors. The Ss were 120 children. Forty children each were selected randomly from each of 5-, 8-, and 12-year age levels. Ten children from each of the age groups were assigned randomly to each of the 4 main treatments. Ss were tested individually. The three main factors and the Age × Output Mode interaction were significant at the 01 level. The 4 asymptotic estimates of the information output (channel capacities) of children at any age ranked similarly by treatment. Children's information output was greatest for the “pure” nonverbal task and least for the “pure” verbal task. The verbal loop hypothesis would appear to be contradicted by these data.