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Checking out the Unexplained: With Age, Children Become Increasingly Skeptical of Surprising Claims

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Title: Checking out the Unexplained: With Age, Children Become Increasingly Skeptical of Surprising Claims
Language: English
Authors: Tone K. Hermansen (ORCID 0000-0002-0952-8819), Karine M. P. Viana, Paul L. Harris, Susan Engel, Imac M. Zambrana, Samuel Ronfard
Source: Developmental Psychology. 2024 60(10):1761-1774.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Children, Young Children, Age Differences, Trust (Psychology), Child Development, Information Seeking, Evidence, Inferences, Child Behavior
Geographic Terms: Norway
DOI: 10.1037/dev0001532
ISSN: 0012-1649
1939-0599
Abstract: When presented with surprising claims, older children investigate such claims more often than younger children. The present study tests whether older children (6-7-year-olds) are more skeptical than younger children (4-5-year-olds) about surprising claims that lack supporting evidence because they expect informants to provide evidence for them. To test this hypothesis, we presented 140 4-7-year-old children (47-96 months, 46.4% girls, 53.6% boys, 86.4% with at least one parent who completed a BA degree, 50% parents with income above median) with a series of vignettes. In each vignette, the protagonist wanted to accomplish a task and needed to select the most appropriate object for that task. Before deciding which object to use, the protagonist heard a surprising claim about one of the object's properties, presented with or without supporting evidence. For example, in the supporting explanation condition, the informant stated that the smallest object was the heaviest and that they knew because they had lifted the objects. Children were then asked whether the protagonist knew which object to use and why. Contrary to expectation, children across all ages typically indicated that the protagonist had sufficient knowledge, regardless of whether an informant provided supporting evidence or not. However, with increasing age, children became more skeptical of both supported and unsupported surprising claims and increasingly stated that the protagonist should not select the object suggested by the informant. Finally, when asked to justify this judgment, older children were more likely than younger to express skepticism toward the claims, especially when presented without supporting evidence.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/wk6xt
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499983
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Checking out the Unexplained: With Age, Children Become Increasingly Skeptical of Surprising Claims
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tone+K%2E+Hermansen%22">Tone K. Hermansen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0952-8819">0000-0002-0952-8819</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karine+M%2E+P%2E+Viana%22">Karine M. P. Viana</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paul+L%2E+Harris%22">Paul L. Harris</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Susan+Engel%22">Susan Engel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Imac+M%2E+Zambrana%22">Imac M. Zambrana</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Samuel+Ronfard%22">Samuel Ronfard</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Developmental+Psychology%22"><i>Developmental Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2024 60(10):1761-1774.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: 14
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  Data: 10.1037/dev0001532
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  Data: 0012-1649<br />1939-0599
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: When presented with surprising claims, older children investigate such claims more often than younger children. The present study tests whether older children (6-7-year-olds) are more skeptical than younger children (4-5-year-olds) about surprising claims that lack supporting evidence because they expect informants to provide evidence for them. To test this hypothesis, we presented 140 4-7-year-old children (47-96 months, 46.4% girls, 53.6% boys, 86.4% with at least one parent who completed a BA degree, 50% parents with income above median) with a series of vignettes. In each vignette, the protagonist wanted to accomplish a task and needed to select the most appropriate object for that task. Before deciding which object to use, the protagonist heard a surprising claim about one of the object's properties, presented with or without supporting evidence. For example, in the supporting explanation condition, the informant stated that the smallest object was the heaviest and that they knew because they had lifted the objects. Children were then asked whether the protagonist knew which object to use and why. Contrary to expectation, children across all ages typically indicated that the protagonist had sufficient knowledge, regardless of whether an informant provided supporting evidence or not. However, with increasing age, children became more skeptical of both supported and unsupported surprising claims and increasingly stated that the protagonist should not select the object suggested by the informant. Finally, when asked to justify this judgment, older children were more likely than younger to express skepticism toward the claims, especially when presented without supporting evidence.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1499983
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      – SubjectFull: Children
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      – SubjectFull: Young Children
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      – SubjectFull: Norway
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