Cognitive Development and Working Memory: A Dialogue between Neo-Piagetian Theories and Cognitive Approaches / Edition 1

by Pierre Barrouillet, Vinciane Gaillard

Overview

The intellectual development of human beings from birth to adulthood is a fascinating phenomenon. Understanding the constraints that limit children’s intelligence, as well as discovering methods to improve it, has always been a challenging undertaking for developmental psychologists. This book presents a unique attempt to address these issues by establishing a dialogue between neo-Piagetian theorists and researchers specialized in typical and atypical working memory development.

The book integrates recent advances in studies of working memory development with theories proposed by the most prominent neo-Piagetian researchers who have emphasized the role of cognitive resources and working memory capacity in the development of thinking and reasoning. In the opening section, the main proponents of this tradition develop their theories of cognitive development in terms of available mental attention, processing efficiency and speed, inhibition and relational complexity. The second part of the book addresses the mechanisms that underpin the increase in working memory capacity and the respective roles of processing efficiency, storage capacity, and the use of reactivation processes of memory traces such as rehearsal. Finally, the central role played by working memory in atypical development and learning difficulties is examined.

This book provides psychologists, students and researchers who are interested in child development with an integrated and up-to-date series of chapters written by prominent specialists in the areas of working memory, attention, and cognitive development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848720367
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/17/2010
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Pierre Barrouillet is Professor of Developmental Psychology at University of Geneva and Director of the Archives Jean Piaget. His research investigates the development of conditional reasoning and numerical cognition, as well as the functioning and development of working memory.

Vinciane Gaillard is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) Consciousness, Cognition, and Computation group, directed by Axel Cleeremans. Her main research interests concern sequence learning, consciousness, control, attention, working memory, development and aging.

Table of Contents

P.Barrouillet, V.Gaillard, Introduction: From Neo-Piagetian Theories to Working memory Development Studies Part 1. Neo Piagetian Theories to Working Memory Development Studies J. Pascual-Leone, J. Johnson, A Developmental Theory of Mental Attention: Its Application to Measurement and Task Analysis G. Andrews, G.S.Halford, Recent Advances in Relational Complexity Theory and Its Application to Cognitive Development A. Demetriou, A. Mouyi, Processing Efficiency, Representational Capacity, and Reasoning: Modelling Their Dynamic Interactions A. De Ribaupierre, D. Fagot, T. Lecerf, Working Memory Capacity and its Role in Cognitive Development: Are Age Differences Driven by the Same Processes Across the Lifespan? Part 2. Underlying Processes of Working Memory Development N.Cowan, C.C.Morey, A.M. AuBuchon, C.E. Zwilling, A.L.Gilchrist, J. Scott Saults, New Insights Into An Old Problem: Distinguishing Storage From Processing in the Development of Working Memory V. Camos, P. Barrouillet, Factors of Working Memory Development: The Time-Based Resource-Sharing Approach C. Jarrold, H. Tam, Rehearsal and the Development of Working Memory Part 3. Working Memory in Typical and Atypical Development H.L. Swanson, The Influence of Working Memory Growth on Reading and Math Performance in Children With Math And/ Or Reading Disabilities T. Packiam Alloway, L. Archibald, Working Memory in Development: Links with Learning Between Typical and Atypical Populations

Editorial Reviews

"Cognitive Development and Working Memory is a highly integrative review of research on working memory development by leading members in the field of child intellectual development. The range of work showcased in this volume makes it an indispensible introduction for advanced graduate students and an excellent reference for more advanced theorists and experimenters in the field. They will find this book an incomparable, cuttingedge reference for the major stakes and prospects in child memory development, Piagetian and cognitivist." - Jason T. Ramsay, in PsycCRITIQUES

"This book brings together a selected group of leading researchers to discuss a currently hot topic. The authors represent different theoretical approaches and research groups, and each chapter contributes in its unique way, using theoretical modelling and experimental and individual-difference studies, to a debate that has become highly relevant in the scientific community. The book is excellent." - Sergio Morra, Unit of Psychology, University of Genoa, Italy

"Cognitive Development and Working Memory is a highly integrative review of research on working memory development by leading members in the field of child intellectual development. The range of work showcased in this volume makes it an indispensible introduction for advanced graduate students and an excellent reference for more advanced theorists and experimenters in the field. They will find this book an incomparable, cuttingedge reference for the major stakes and prospects in child memory development, Piagetian and cognitivist." - Jason T. Ramsay, in PsycCRITIQUES

"This book brings together a selected group of leading researchers to discuss a currently hot topic. The authors represent different theoretical approaches and research groups, and each chapter contributes in its unique way, using theoretical modelling and experimental and individual-difference studies, to a debate that has become highly relevant in the scientific community. The book is excellent." - Sergio Morra, Unit of Psychology, University of Genoa, Italy

From the Publisher