The study explored the relationship of play and development in adolescents. It was developed to determine if play in adolescents has a cognitive developmental purpose. The research design was a quantitative study with qualitative elements. The design of the study consisted two groups of participants who engaged in either a computer program to test cognitive skills or a computer game which contains the same tests. The participants (N = 216) were adolescent males and females (ages 12-19) from urban mid-Atlantic Catholic high schools. After vetting the data, the total was N = 167 and only included males (ages 14-19). The study indicated that adolescent males performed the cognitive tasks of memory and reading better in the play condition than the work condition and performed the cognitive tasks of logic and mathematics better in the work condition than the play condition. Differences in performance related to age are not present. This study suggests that play may have an effect on adolescents’ cognitive development; therefore, it can be used as an effective method for some types of instruction. The study may contribute to the literature with the groundwork for further research exploring the cognitive nature of play in adolescents and its potential impact on identity formation.

In this thesis, I propose a team-based design curriculum that aligns with the cognitive development of middle school age students. The ability to think abstractly develops at a specific time in development, according to widely accepted cognitive theory. The middle school years are the launching pad of abstract thinking. At this age, students are also primed for learning through social activity. The design process often includes abstract problem solving challenges, and working within a team structure. These ideas build a foundation for a research question—could a team-based design curriculum in middle school strengthen students’ natural cognitive development by providing opportunities for adaptations through experiential learning? In this thesis, I propose a team-based design curriculum for middle school students, which follows a trajectory of concrete to abstract challenges, complementing the natural cognitive transition of this age.

Executive function (EF) and theory of mind (ToM) skills develop rapidly during the preschool years and have been found to directly and indirectly contribute to school readiness. Evidence indicates that EF may influence ToM development, though this relation may not be consistent across children from different backgrounds. Additionally, socioeconomic status (SES) has been shown to affect preschoolers’ EF, while the literature is mixed regarding the effects – if any – that SES may have on ToM development. Though the relation between EF and ToM appears robust across the literature, the possible effects of SES on this relation have yet to be fully explored. As children from low-SES homes are more likely to fall behind at the start of school, and this achievement gap is likely to widen through the school years, it is important to understand how the cognitive components that contribute to school readiness develop and are affected by SES so that we may work toward improving preschool education for children across all socioeconomic backgrounds. The primary purpose of the current study was to determine whether SES affected the relation between EF and ToM among urban preschool children (ages 3-5 years) from various SES backgrounds. In addition to examining the EF-ToM relation, relations among SES, general cognitive skills, EF, and ToM, as well as relations among age, EF, and ToM, were examined. Results from correlational and regression analyses indicated that SES was related to EF but not ToM, and that EF was not related to ToM after controlling for age. Inconsistent with the majority of previous findings, the results did not support the hypothesized link between EF and ToM. However, the findings from this study do add support to the large body of literature pertaining to the positive relation between SES and EF, and provide evidence that ToM may be relatively protected from the negative effects of low-SES among preschoolers. Results also support previous reports of large age-related changes in EF and ToM that occur during the preschool years. The implications for preschool development and education are discussed.

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional & Community Planning / Mary Catherine (Katie) Kingery-Page / There is currently a dearth of planning literature concerning participatory processes relative to children, particularly in the planning and design of schoolyard or playground spaces. Through a local, place-based, participatory approach emphasizing local knowledge and active listening, this master's report seeks to confirm the value of children in the planning and design of a schoolyard space. The study took place at the Northview Elementary School in Manhattan, KS comprising students as primary stakeholders, teachers/administrative staff as secondary stakeholders and parents as tertiary stakeholders. Additionally, the study employed Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s childhood cognitive development theories and five operational play categories in guiding the development of a learning landscape design aimed at supporting and maximizing cognitive development, physical activity and recreation. The report concludes with a set of five (5) recommendations designed to equip prospective researchers in undertaking participatory processes within school settings. The implication of this study is that sustained stakeholder engagement during planning and design processes of schoolyards will result in spaces reflective of the target audience.

Pour acquérir leur langue maternelle, les bébés doivent a la fois apprendre la forme des mots (par exemple, le mot “chien” en français, “dog” en anglais) et leur sens (la catégorie des chiens). Ces deux aspects de l’apprentissage de la langue ont été typiquement étudiés indépendamment. Des découvertes récentes en psychologie du développement et en apprentissage automatique suggèrent, néanmoins, que la forme et le sens pourraient très bien interagir, et ce, dès les premières étapes du développement. La thèse explore cette piste à travers une étude interdisciplinaire qui combine des outils utilisés dans la technologie de la reconnaissance et la psychologie expérimentale. Dans un premier temps, j’ai développé un modèle computationnel capable d’apprendre, à partir des données naturelles, la forme à partir d’une représentation sémantique ambiguë, simulant la connaissance approximative du bébé. Dans un deuxième temps, j’ai testé la plausibilité cognitive du mécanisme sur des sujets adultes. / To acquire their native language, babies have to learn both the forms of words (e.g., “dog” in English, “chien” in French) and their meanings (the category of dogs). These two aspects of language learning have typically been studied independently. However, recent findings from developmental psychology and machine learning have pointed out that this assumption is problematic, and have suggested that form and meaning may interact with one another throughout development. This dissertation explores this hypothesis through an interdisciplinary investigation that combines tools from speech recognition and experimental psychology. First, I developed a computational model of joint form and meaning acquisition, capable of learning from a corpus of natural speech. Second, I tested the cognitive plausibility of this model with adult subjects.

Ce travail de Thèse a consisté à étudier le développement cognitif pendant la période préscolaire à partir d'une cohorte longitudinale menée en France en population générale : la cohorte EDEN (N = 2002). Dans le cadre de l'épidémiologie cognitive, nous avons tenté de répondre à diverses questions de recherche dont le dénominateur commun est l'étude de la variabilité interindividuelle dans le développement cognitif. Tout d'abord, nous avons étudié les facteurs pré, péri et post-natals associés aux changements des performances linguistiques entre 2 et 3 ans. Puis, nous avons tenté d'identifier les facteurs environnementaux ayant un effet différentiel sur le développement verbal et non-verbal à 5-6 ans. Ensuite, nous avons exploré l'effet des performances linguistiques à 3 ans sur les symptômes de TDAH à 5-6 ans. Puis, nous avons cherché à déterminer si les enfants avec un haut niveau intellectuel présentaient davantage de difficultés émotionnelles, comportementales et relationnelles pendant la période préscolaire. Enfin, nous avons examiné l'intérêt des repères développementaux au cours des deux premières années de vie pour prédire le QI à 5-6 ans. Les résultats de ces études fournissent des données intéressantes pour les cliniciens ainsi que pour les décideurs de santé publique et contribuent à améliorer la compréhension du développement cognitif normal et pathologique. / In this Thesis, we studied the cognitive development of children during the preschool period in a French longitudinal cohort: the EDEN prospective mother-child cohort (N = 2002). In the framework of cognitive epidemiology, we attempted to answer a variety of issues whose common denominator is the study of the sources of inter-individual variability. First, we identified the factors that predict change in language skills in a large sample of children between 2 and 3 years of age. Secondly, we determined whether early predictors of cognitive development affect some cognitive functions more than others. Thirdly, we examined the relationships between children’s language skills and symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention between 3 and 5.5 years. Fourthly, we determined whether high intelligence is associated with emotional, behavioral and social difficulties during the preschool period. Finally, we determined whether the developmental milestones at 4, 8, 12 and months predict children’s IQ at 5.5 years.

The report describes the design of a safe (within EU regulations), ergonomic, attractive, sustainable, versatile and interactive playground toy for children from ages 7 to 11. The product aims to help children develop in different aspects: physical, emotional, social and mental, in a sustainable environment. This was developed from the identification and exploration of the factors that influence the design of playground toys. The design process was divided in the following main stages: an initial research of information, the interpretation of this data, the development of a concept, a test stage and the results. During the research, teachers and parents were interviewed and children were observed. Relevant information was also gathered. For the development, a set of creative techniques were applied and finally tested. Modifications based on the test were made to reach an accurate design. The work done was successful to the extent established initially; although, it can be subject to improvement. The main limit was that no tests were performed on a physical prototype, therefore, there is information not yet gathered and tests that would prove if some of the assumptions were true or false.

A neuropsicologia infantil e uma area distinta dentro da neuropsicologia clinica e o seu surgimento e uma consequencia do reconhecimento de que as relacoes cerebrocomportamento na crianca diferem significativamente dessas relacoes no adulto. Diversos testes neuropsicologicos tem sido desenvolvidos especialmente para administracao em computador, incluindo a bateria CANTAB que tem sido amplamente utilizada em pesquisas com diferentes grupos de idade e patologias. Em relacao ao desenvolvimento, alguns aspectos da atencao estao presentes no inicio da infancia enquanto outros continuam a se desenvolver ao longo da infancia e adolescencia. A memoria sofre inumeras alteracoes ao longo da vida, especialmente na idade pre-escolar. E as funcoes executivas demoram mais tempo para se desenvolver por completo e estudos apontam que alguns componentes ja estao presentes de forma imatura em criancas entre os 6 e 12 anos de idade, mas a completa maturacao acontece com a idade. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi investigar o desenvolvimento da atencao, memoria e funcoes executivas em criancas e adolescentes dos 6 aos 12 anos de idade com o CANTAB, buscando padroes especificos de desenvolvimento para os componente dessas funcoes. Foram avaliados 85 criancas e adolescentes (43 masculino) entre 6 e 12 anos de idade, sem historico de disturbios neurologicos e/ou psiquiatricos, exposicao cronica a agentes toxicos, lesao ou cirurgia cerebral e problemas de desenvolvimento. Foram utilizados o teste Matrizes Progressiva Coloridas de Raven e os seguintes subtestes do CANTAB: Choice Reaction Time, Rapid Visual Information Processing, Pattern Recognition Memory, Delayed Matching to Sample, Spatial Recognition Memory, Spatial Span, Stockings of Cambridge, Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift, Stop Signal Task e Information Sampling Task. Os resultados indicaram que a atencao, a memoria e as funcoes executivas apresentam melhora no desenvolvimento nas idades avaliadas. A atencao visual simples, percepcao visual e capacidade de conceituacao ja estao desenvolvidas aos 6 anos. A amplitude atencional, memoria visual, memoria espacial, flexibilidade mental e controle mental estao em desenvolvimento nas idades avaliadas e apresentam um bom desempenho aos 12 anos. O planejamento e atencao sustentada apresentaram melhoras, mas ainda nao alcancaram o pleno desenvolvimento. A, tomada de decisao e controle inibitorio nao apresentaram aprimoramentos significativos e sua maturacao deve ocorrer apos os 12 anos. A bateria CANTAB se mostrou eficaz na avaliacao de criancas e adolescentes brasileiros de 6 a 12 anos de idade com alta aplicabilidade nessa amostra e resultados compativeis com a literatura. A comparacao entre os nossos resultados e aqueles encontrados nos estudos internacionais com o CANTAB indica compatibilidade entre boa parte dos grupos etarios avaliados, independentemente das diferencas culturais existentes / Child neuropsychology is a distinct area in the clinical neuropsychology and its emergence is a consequence of the acknowledgment that the brain-behavior relationships in child differ significantly from those in adult. Several neuropsychology tests have been developed to be administered in computers, including the CANTAB that has been widely used by researchers concerning different ages and pathologies groups. In regard to the development, some aspects of attention are present in the beginning of childhood while others continue to develop along the childhood and youth. Memory processes undergo many changes throughout life, especially in preschool age. Executive functions take longer to fully develop and researches indicate that some components are present in immature form on child between 6 to 12 years old, but the complete ripening occurs with age increase. The aim of this work was to investigate the development of attention, memory and executive functions in children and teenagers from 6 to 12 years old using the CANTAB, and verify if there are specific patterns of development for the components of these functions. There were evaluated 85 children and teenagers (43 male) between 6 to 12 years old with no history of neurological and/or psychiatric disorders, chronic exposures to toxic agents, injury or brain surgery and development disorders. They were submitted to the Ravens progressive matrices and the following CANTABs subtests: Choice Reaction Time, Rapid Visual Information Processing, Pattern Recognition Memory, Delayed Matching to Sample, Spatial Recognition Memory, Spatial Span, Stockings of Cambridge, Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift, Stop Signal Task e Information Sampling Task. The results indicated improvements in attention, memory and executive functions in the development in the age groups evaluated. Simple visual attention, visual perception and conceptualization capacity seem to be developed at 6 years old. Attentional span, visual memory, spatial memory, mental flexibility and mental control are in ongoing development in the age groups evaluated, and a good performance is reached at 12 years old. Planning ability and sustained attention showed improvements in age groups evaluated but they have not reached fully development. Decision making and inhibitory control do not showed significant improvement and their ripening should occur after the 12 years old. The CANTAB battery was effective to evaluate Brazilians children and teenagers from 6 to 12 years old with high applicability in this sample and results consistent with the literature. The comparison between our results and those found in the international studies with CANTAB indicates compatibility in almost all age evaluated, regardless cultural differences

O presente trabalho pretendeu discutir teoricamente e ilustrar com alguns casos clínicos as dificuldades de atribuição de estados mentais de crianças com autismo, estabelecendo uma articulação entre alguns conceitos da epistemologia genética piagetiana, tais como representação e egocentrismo e do constructo da teoria da mente. A teoria da mente tem sido denominada, pelos seus estudiosos, como a capacidade de atribuir estados mentais (crenças, desejos, intensões e emoções) a si e aos outros, no intuito de explicar, interpretar e predizer comportamentos e tem alcançado destaque com o passar dos anos, em relação às pesquisas sobre autismo no cenário internacional. No entanto, algumas divergências entre seus autores resultam em diferentes maneiras de mensurar esta capacidade. Leslie (1987,1988) considera que a teoria da mente já esteja presente nas brincadeiras de faz de conta infantil e no emprego dos termos mentais utilizados por crianças de dois anos de idade. Diferentemente, Perner (1991) advoga que a teoria da mente só é evidente quando a criança tem a capacidade de reconhecer que a mente é um sistema de representações, por volta de quatro a seis anos de idade. Por isso, para este último autor, somente a partir da resolução das tarefas de crença falsa é que se poderia afirmar que a criança apresenta a teoria da mente, pois, assim, significa que esta diferencie entre o subjetivo e o mundo físico. A representação mental e a construção interna do mundo real, feita pela criança, foram assuntos amplamente estudados por Jean Piaget. Piaget (1947) afirma que a criança alcança um nível de representação mental que lhe habilite a diferenciar entre o que é subjetivo do que é objetivo quando supera o egocentrismo, pois enquanto pensar que todos pensam como ela, não encontrará motivos para se conformar às verdades comuns, além de não se interessar pela busca de comprovações lógicas sobre aquilo que afirma. O pensamento egocêntrico, na epistemologia genética piagetiana, é um estágio primitivo do pensamento lógico marcado por três características: predomínio da imagem sobre o conceito, certa inconsciência do pensamento e ausência de lógica. Ancorada na epistemologia genética piagetiana e com base na realização de estudos de casos de duas crianças com autismo e uma criança com desenvolvimento neurotípico, a presente investigação concluiu que os referidos autores da teoria da mente discorrem sobre diferentes estágios desta capacidade. Além disso, por meio de entrevista clínica segundo Piaget, da análise do emprego dos termos mentais e da análise das justificativas de seus participantes em relação à tarefa de crença falsa de Sally e Ann, este estudo depreendeu que a capacidade de atribuir estados mentais ao outro requer o início da superação do egocentrismo, descrito por Piaget. Por isso, crianças com autismo, apesar de poderem empregar termos mentais em seus discursos, geralmente, têm dificuldades de diferenciar entre o subjetivo e o mundo real, apresentando tendência à representação imagética em detrimento da representação conceitual, desinteresse em comprovar o que afirmam e dificuldades em diferenciar o próprio ponto de vista do ponto de vista de outrem / This research intended to discuss theoretically and illustrate with some clinical cases the assignment difficulties of mental states of children with autism, establishing a link between the concepts of mental representation and egocentrism in Piaget\'s genetic epistemology and the theory of mind. The Theory of mind has been defined by their researchers as the ability to attribute mental states (beliefs, desires, intentions and emotions) to onself and others, in order to explain, interpret and predict behaviors and it has achieved prominence with over the years, in relation to autism research in the international scene. However, some differences between their authors resulted in different ways to measure this capacity. Leslie (1987,1988) considers that the Theory of mind is already present in child\'s pretend play and employment of mental expressions used by children of two years. In contrast, Perner (1991) argues that the Theory of mind is only evident when the child has the ability to recognize that the mind is a system of representations about four to six years old. So, it is only after the resolution of the false-belief tasks that one could say that the child has a theory of mind, meaning that he distinguishes between the subjective and the physical world. The mental representation and the internal construction of the real world made by children were subjects extensively studied by Jean Piaget. Piaget (1947) argues that children reach a level of mental representation when they are able to differentiate between what is subjective and what is objective and when they overcome the egocentrism. While they think that everyone thinks like them, they don\'t find reasons to conform to common truths, and they won\'t be interested in seeking logical evidence about what they say. For Piaget, the egocentric thought is a primitive stage of logical thinking marked by three characteristics: predominance of the image of the concept, some unconscious thought and lack of logic. Based on Piaget\'s genetic epistemology and based on two studies case of one children with autism and one with neurotypical child development, this research concluded that these authors of the Theory of mind discourse on different stages of this capacity. Furthermore, through clinical interview, the employment of mental expressions and the analysis of the justifications of the participants in relation to the false belief task of Sally and Ann, this study concluded that the ability to attribute mental states to others requires the early overcoming of egocentrism, as described by Piaget. Therefore, children with autism, although they may employ mental expression in their speeches, they usually have difficulties to differentiate between the subjective and the real world, with a tendency to image representation at the expense of conceptual representation, unwillingness to prove what they say and difficulties in differentiate their own point of view from the other ones

Thesis advisor: Rebekah L. Coley / The goal of this dissertation was to delineate the repercussions of early maternal employment for children's early developmental competencies in the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. and to test economic and psychological theories regarding potential mechanisms linking maternal employment with children's development, including time, money, and stress. Prior research has focused on older, non-representative cohorts of American children, with results suggesting full-time employment in the first year after childbirth is linked with lower cognitive and behavioral skills. It is unclear if these same patterns exist in more recent cohorts and in other countries with differing cultural expectations and policy environments for families, most notably more comprehensive parental leave policies. Data came from representative samples of children born in each country between 2000 and 2004: (1) the U.S.'s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (N=10,100), (2) Australia's Longitudinal Study of Australian Children-Birth Cohort (N=5,093), and (3) the U.K.'s Millennium Cohort Study (N= 18,497). In each dataset, mother's employment data were coded to assess the month of entry into employment following childbirth. Extensive, well-validated direct assessment, mother report, and teacher report measures assessed children's cognitive and behavioral skills following entry into formal schooling. Descriptive data showed very different patterns of entry into employment: American mothers entered employment the earliest and at the highest intensity with more gradual, lower intensity returns by Australian and British mothers. OLS regression models weighted with propensity scores and controlling for a rich array of child and maternal characteristics suggested that early movements into employment had few associations with children's cognitive or behavioral skills in any of the countries. These neutral associations were not differentiated by maternal time, stress, or wages. However, as non-maternal household income decreased, early employment was linked with higher cognitive skills in the U.S. while employment begun before two years was linked with higher behavioral skills in Australia. There was no evidence of moderation by non-maternal household income in the U.K. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for work family policy. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology.