The performance of preschool children on reversal and two types of extradimensional shifts

Abstract

In three experiments, preschool children performed on one of three types of discrimination shifts. The shifts were Reversal (R) shifts, Extradimensional shifts in which the stimuli of the shift problem were different from those of the original discrimination (EDD shift), and Extradimensional shifts in which the stimuli of the shift problem were the same as those of the original problem (EDS shift). The R shift was easier than either of the two ED shifts, and the EDD shift was easier than the EDS shift. The results were interpreted as inconsistent with a developmental-change hypothesis and were related to earlier findings.