Children who switched to the efficient method largely reverted to the inefficient method over subsequent trials¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r? · q3
Currency · newest study 2022 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? 85% of children who switched in the Inefficient first condition reverted to the inefficient method at least once. → Davis 2022

Evidence¶

Davis 2022¶

Davis, S., Rawlings, B., Clegg, J. M., Ikejimba, D., Watson-Jones, R. E., Whiten, A. & Legare, C. H. (2022). Cognitive flexibility supports the development of cumulative cultural learning in children. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18231-7

q3 · i? · causal · r?

In the Inefficient first condition, "61 children (85% of those who switched) reverted from the efficient method back to the inefficient method at least once". Reversion was more likely in later phases (Phase 5 = 83% of switchers).

"In total 61 children (85% of those who switched) reverted from the efficient method back to the inefficient method at least once."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Executive Function — outcome: instruction changes it
• Mathematical Flexibility — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• Children who first learned the efficient method switched to the observed inefficient method — related
• Most 3–5-year-old children who first learned an inefficient puzzlebox method switched to a witnessed, more efficient alternative — related
• In simulated mastery learning, system constraints left most other task-selection strategies' overpractice stable while sharply reducing it under the outlier risk-averse strategy — related
• Children switched to the efficient method more often than chimpanzees on the same puzzlebox task — related
• Children who observed the efficient method first switched earlier than children observing the inefficient method first — related