The development of categorisation and conceptual thinking in early childhood: methods and limitations

Abstract We present a systematic and qualitative review of academic literature on early conceptual development (0-24 months of age), with an emphasis on methodological aspects. The final sample of our review included 281 studies reported in 115 articles. The main aims of the article were four: first, to organise studies into sets according to methodological similarities and differences; second, to elaborate on the methodological procedures that characterise each set; third, to circumscribe the empirical indicators that different sets of studies consider as proof of the existence of concepts in early childhood; last, to identify methodological limitations and to propose possible ways to overcome them. We grouped the studies into five sets: preference and habituation experiments , category extension tasks , object sorting tasks , sequential touching tasks and object examination tasks . In the "Results" section, we review the core features of each set of studies. In the "Discussion" and "Conclusions" sections, we describe, for one thing, the most relevant methodological shortcomings. We end by arguing that a situated, semiotic and pragmatic perspective that emphasises the importance of ecological validity could open up new avenues of research to better understand the development of concepts in early childhood.

Imaginación, creatividad y fantasía en Lev S. Vygotski: una aproximación a su enfoque sociocultural

Este trabajo persigue dos objetivos; en primer lugar, exponer sucintamente algunas de las características de las categorías conceptuales que constituyen el núcleo duro de los enfoques socioculturales, tanto en su formulación vygotskiana (Teoría Histórico-Cultural), como en aquellas postvygotskianas. Ello permitirá sentar bases conceptuales desde las cuales encarar el segundo objetivo, a saber, analizar el texto Imaginación y creatividad en el adolescente [Pedologija podrostka (Pedagogía del Adolescente), 1931] de Lev S. Vygotski. Dicho texto resulta un caso de análisis útil tanto para ilustrar el abordaje sociocultural del autor en relación con la creatividad y su vinculación con otras funciones psicológicas al interior del desarrollo sociogenético del individuo, como su poder de creación de consciencia y control autorregulatorio.las organizaciones y la sociedad en reducir las desigualdades en el lugar de trabajo y apoyar mejores acciones preventivas.

This article has two aims. First, to expose briefly some characteristics of the key conceptual categories of sociocultural approaches, both in its Vygotskian (Historical-Cultural Theory) and post-Vygotskian interpretations. This will lay the conceptual foundations needed to address the second aim, that is, to analyse the text Imagination and Creativity in the Adolescent [Pedologija podrostka (Pedagogy of the Adolescent), 1931] by Lev S. Vygotski. This text makes up a useful case to explain the author's sociocultural approach about creativity and its relationship with other psychological functions within the sociogenetic development of subjects, as well as its power of creation of consciousness and autoregulatory control.