McGarrigle and Donaldson’s study

• What was the aim of this study?

  To see if a deliberate change in the row of counters would help younger children conserve.
• What was the method of this study?

  Children aged 4-6

  Two rows of counters, teddy messed up one of them. Child asked if rows were the same
• What were the results of this study?

  Deliberate change = 41% Conserved

  Accidental change = 68% Conserved

  Older children did better than younger ones.
• What were the conclusions of this study?

  Piagets method doesn’t show what children can do.

  This study does shoe there are still age-related changes.
• What is conservation?


  Although appearance changes, quantity stays the same. Piaget thought younger children couldn’t.
• What was a negative evaluation of this study?

  Primary school sample from one school, so comparisons between groups may not be valid (VALIDITY)
• What is another negative evaluation of this study?

  The change wasn’t noticed, children may appear to conserve because they simple didn’t notice the change or were distracted by the teddy.