This study uses Cases neo-Piagetian theory (1991) of cognitive development as a conceptual framework to investigate social cognitive development from childhood through late adolescence. Method: Using a coding scheme based on the Case model of cognitive development to evaluate performance on a measure of social reasoning abilities (Movie Clips Task), we examined the relationship between age and levels of cognitive complexity (so-called dimensional and vectorial stages of cognitive complexity). We also examined the contributions of working memory, information processing speed, and verbal IQ on social reasoning complexity. Results: Consistent with Cases theory, adolescents (n = 25) had significantly higher percentages of vectorial responses than pre-adolescents (n = 21), indicative of a greater frequency of responses that are representative of the highest level of cognitive development. Also, in accordance with Cases theory (1992a), information processing speed and working memory were independently associated with Movie Clips task performance, although when entered simultaneously in a linear regression model, only information processing speed significantly predicted performance on the Movie Clips task. Last, partial support for criterion validity for the Movie Clips task was demonstrated by its significant correlation with performance on an alternative measure of social cognitive abilities. The findings support Cases cognitive developmental theory and suggest that social cognitive abilities develop through adolescence.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-08252008-141032 |
| Date | 29 September 2008 |
| Creators | Swentosky, Anthony James |
| Contributors | Heather Bachman, Gretchen Haas, Carl Johnson |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-08252008-141032/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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