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On the Development of "More" and "Less" NIH

Author(s):
Weiner, Susan L.
Publication Year:
1972
Report Number:
RB-72-61
Source:
ETS Research Bulletin
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
32
Subject/Key Words:
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Cognitive Tests, Concept Formation, Number Concepts, Preschool Children

Abstract

The concepts "more" and "less" were analyzed into two meaning dimensions, "existence" (derived from children's early languages) and "quantity," which were hypothesized to be developmentally related to acts of addition and subtraction. Two experiments tested two- and three-year olds' comprehension of these concepts when initially equal or unequal rows were added to, subtracted from or left static. Addition and subtraction had little effect on Ss' comprehension of either term. Ss understood "more" first when number characteristics of the array were relatively large, suggesting "many" as an intermediate stage of meaning for "more." No evidence was found for "less" meaning "more," as others have claimed. Ss understood "less" later than"more," a difference attributed to the restricted use of "less" as "smaller in amount." (Author) (32pp.)

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