Supporting children's tool innovation

Whalley, Clare Louise ORCID: 0000-0002-6054-0194 (2020). Supporting children's tool innovation. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The existing research has demonstrated young children’s difficulty with solving novel tool innovation problems. Through nine experiments this thesis investigates children’s tool innovation, focusing on whether this can be supported and the conditions under which children are more likely to succeed. In Experiments 1-3 the effect of prior experience with premade tools on innovation is explored. In Experiment 4, I explored whether directing an adult to solve the Hooks task made young children more likely to innovate a tool solution. In Experiment 5, I aimed to discover whether children’s tool innovation can be predicted by their divergent thinking ability. In Experiments 5-8 I studied how priming spatial distance, and in turn abstract thinking, affects subsequent tool innovation. In Experiment 9 I began to explore whether priming children to engage in analogical problem-solving can facilitate subsequent tool innovation. Overall, this thesis has suggested that our current understanding of children’s tool innovation may underestimate their potential. In the concluding chapter of this thesis, I summarise the key findings of this thesis, limitations and suggestions for future research.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):