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Relating developments in children's counterfactual thinking and executive functions

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Beck, Sarah R., Riggs, Kevin J., Gorniak, Sarah L.·2009·Thinking & Reasoning

DOI 10.1080/13546780903135904

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Abstract

The performance of 93 children aged 3 and 4 years on a battery of different counterfactual tasks was assessed. Three measures: short causal chains, location change counterfactual conditionals, and false syllogisms—but not a fourth, long causal chains—were correlated, even after controlling for age and receptive vocabulary. Children's performance on our counterfactual thinking measure was predicted by receptive vocabulary ability and inhibitory control. The role that domain general executive functions may play in 3- to 4-year olds' counterfactual thinking development is discussed.

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Byrne, R. M. J. (2026) · Journal of Cognition · doi:10.5334/joc.506

Authors: Beck, S. R., Riggs, K. J., & Gorniak, S. L.
Affiliations: University of Birmingham (GB)
London Metropolitan University (GB)
Corresponding author: Beck, Sarah R.
ORCID: Beck, Sarah R.
Riggs, Kevin J.
Venue: Thinking & Reasoning
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2009-11
Volume: 15
Issue: 4
Pages: 337-354
ISSN: 1354-6783 (ISSN-L)
1464-0708
DOI: 10.1080/13546780903135904
OpenAlex: W2048089934
Cited by: 105
References: 32
Citations by year: 2026: 9 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
FWCI: 11.13
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
hull-repository.worktribe.com
Licence: cc-by
Locations: Thinking & Reasoning (publishedVersion)
Repository@Hull (Worktribe) (University of Hull) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Repository@Hull (Worktribe) (University of Hull) (submittedVersion)
University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
Funders: Economic and Social Research Council (RES-000-22-1683)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
Keywords: counterfactual reasoning, executive function, inhibitory control, young children, causal reasoning, receptive vocabulary, domain-general cognition

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Relating developments in children's counterfactual thinking and executive functions

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