Does Spatial Navigation predict Theory of Mind in 4-year-old children? The roles of Age and Verbal Ability

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dc.contributor.advisorImmel, A.I.H.
dc.contributor.authorGorissen, S.
dc.date.issued2018-02-03
dc.description.abstractThe main goal of this study was to investigate if spatial navigation in four-yearold children predicts the performance on theory of mind (ToM) and whether their age and verbal ability played a role in this. If spatial navigation predicts theory of mind, this would support the Self-Projection Theory (Buckner & Carrol, 2007). This theory proposes that self-projection, an overarching mechanism to mentally change perspective, is used for both spatial navigation and theory of mind. Seventy-five four-year-old children participated in this study. Spatial navigation, theory of mind and verbal ability were measured using: a ‘map-task’, a ‘false belief content task’ and a ‘vocabulary task’. All data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics. The results of the study suggest that spatial navigation and the age of the child do not significantly predict the performance of ToM. The results did suggest that verbal ability was significantly predictive for ToM. If the child performed better on the vocabulary task, the chance of passing the false belief task (measuring ToM) increased. Verbal ability seems important for the understanding of the beliefs of others (ToM). This might be explained by the fact that both verbal ability and ToM require social experience and linguistic skills. Future research could include measurements for social experience, bigger sample sizes with a broader age-range and more trials measuring ToM.en_US
dc.embargo.lift10000-01-01
dc.embargo.typePermanent embargoen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://theses.ubn.ru.nl/handle/123456789/6649
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.thesis.facultyFaculteit der Sociale Wetenschappenen_US
dc.thesis.specialisationMaster Gezondheidszorgpsychologieen_US
dc.thesis.studyprogrammePsychologieen_US
dc.thesis.typeMasteren_US
dc.titleDoes Spatial Navigation predict Theory of Mind in 4-year-old children? The roles of Age and Verbal Abilityen_US

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