A cognitive developmental approach is essential to understanding cumulative technological culture

Burdett, Emily Rachel Reed; Ronfard, Samuel

Abstract

Osiurak and Reynaud argue that children are not a good methodological choice to examine cumulative technological culture. However, the manuscript ignores other current work that suggests that young children do display some aspects of creative problem-solving. We argue that using multiple methodologies and examining how technical reasoning develops in children will provide crucial support for a cognitive approach to CTC. Main text: Osiurak and Reynaud (n.d.) claim that children do not possess the technological expertise required to innovate new solutions to problems and conclude it is debatable whether children are a good 'methodological choice' to examine CTC (section 3.4). Indeed, children do struggle with tasks requiring creative problem-solving and we agree that sufficient technical-reasoning is required for innovation. However, the manuscript ignores a growing body of research that suggests some early innovative capacities and does not give adequate discussion to the early development of technical reasoning skills. Indeed, based on recent developmental evidence, we argue that young children display some aspects of creative problem solving under limited conditions. Understanding these constraints on innovation in early childhood is key to understanding what is developing.

Citation

Burdett, E. R. R., & Ronfard, S. (2020). A cognitive developmental approach is essential to understanding cumulative technological culture. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 43, Article e159. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X20000175

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 26, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Aug 10, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020
• Deposit Date: Apr 20, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 11, 2021
• Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences
• Print ISSN: 0140-525X
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-1825
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Article Number: e159
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X20000175
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4316426
• Publisher URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioral-and-brain-sciences/article/cognitive-developmental-approach-is-essential-to-understanding-cumulative-technological-culture/99630DD1000AB6414AE9821298188562
• Additional Information: Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press