Hughes’ study

• What is egocentrism?


  Seeing the world only from one’s own point of view.

  Piaget tested this with the three mountains task, showing egocentrism up to age 7.

  This was challenged by the ’policeman doll study’
• What was the aim of this study? 


  To create a test that would make more sense than Piaget’s.
• What was the method of this study?

  3 1/2 to 5 year olds asked to hide a boy doll from two policemen. They were given practice first with one doll.
• What were the results of this study?

  90% could hide the boy doll away from two policemen.

  3 year olds did less well either a more complex task.
• What could be concluded from the study?

  Children aged 4 years are mostly not egocentric.

  Piaget underestimsted abilities but was right that thinking changes with age.
• What was a negative evaluation of the study?

  Effect of expectation

  Unconscious cues from the researcher may have intluenced the children’s behaviour, so the results lack validity.
• What was a positive evaluation of the study?

  More realistic.

  Task made better sense to children and they were given practice so they understood, so a more realistic test of abilities.