Surface similarity and relational similarity in the development of analogical problem solving: Isomorphic and nonisomorphic transfer.

Abstract

Surface and relational similarity were examined in 2 experiments involving isomorphic and nonisomorphic analogical transfer. Each study included a direct-mapping condition, in which surface features of the base mapped directly to surface features in the target, and a cross-mapping condition, in which surface features of the base and target were reversed. Experiment 1 involved transfer between analogs of the missionaries-cannibals (MC) problem among kindergarten, 3rd-grade, and 6th-grade children. The 3rd and 6th graders in the cross-mapping condition exhibited mappings based on relational similarity significantly more frequently than the kindergartners. Experiment 2 examined performance of 4- to 6-year-olds vs. 6- to 8-year-olds in nonisomorphic transfer between jealous husbands and MC problems. In the cross-mapping condition, most children exhibited mappings based on surface similarity