The development of geographic representation in children. Cognitive and affective aspects of model-building behaviour

Auteurs :
DIJKINK, G.
ELBERS, E.

Description :
Children varying in age from 7 to 13 were asked to build a city with modeling toys. The products show a clear development with age which is described as a transition from an egocentric to a topocentric phase. The manipulation of physical structure precedes the occurrence of most geographical aspects of the products. The genesis of knowledge about city structure seems to be indicated or preceded by an increasing significance of the residential neighbourhood (or lifespace) as an explanatory variable. As a result, the topocentric quality of the products is most pronounced in the highest age-group.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie Rotterdam, 1981, vol. 72, n°. 1, p. 2-16, Références bibliographiques : 15 réf.

Date :
1981