Developmental differences in the question asking behavior of Indian and white boys
Date
1972
Authors
Lee, Earl R.
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Abstract
Groups of Indian and white boys ages 7-8 years, 9-10 years, and 11-12 years from rural and urban residential areas were studied to test associations between question-asking performance and age, and ethnic, and residential characteristics.
Subjects (n=271) were required to ask questions which would permit them to locate a preselected "target" picture from a stimulus array or 3" by 5" line drawn picture cards. The proportion of constraint questions used and the number of problems solved were assumed to reflect the overall efficiency of the information seeking strategy.
Association between the number of constraint questions and each of age groups and ethnic groups were found. There v:as no significant association, as tested by chi-square tests, between number of constraint questions and place of residence. Differences in the number of problems solved by the three age levels and by the ethnic groups reached a statistically significant level in analysis of variance. Differences in the number of problems solved by rural and urban groups were of little consequence.
It was concluded that cultural background may have a significant bearing on the information seeking behavior of children.