General Research Themes

Analogy and Explanation in Promoting Learning and Transfer: Understanding key principles and identifying similarities between previously encountered problems and a new situation is crucial to learning. We explore the factors that contribute to better learning and thus to better transfer on a subsequent task. 

Development of Analogical Reasoning: The ability to transfer solutions to a different context is crucial for learning. This project aims to investigate what factors benefit and hinder analogical problem-solving in preschoolers.  We are looking into how to promote the development of analogical reasoning and how analogical comparison aids problem-solving in preschool children.

Current Projects

The role of active and passive learning in transfer: This project looks into factors that contribute to learning and subsequent transfer among adult learners.

The role of relational mindset among children and adults: These projects look into the factors that promote analogical thinking among preschool children and adults.

Relational learning in children: This project looks into the development of same/different relations among preschool children and factors that contribute to same/different conceptualization.

Past Projects

Relational Language and Categorization: This project looks into cues that help young children focus on relational similarity. We know that language is a powerful instrument for extracting relational information from stimuli. However, is it possible that children could benefit from other, non-linguistic cues? We look into what factors promote the use of relational information.  

Analogy and Memory: This project looked into the interplay of analogy and memory. Analogical reminding is often thought to be problematic, though beneficial to learning and subsequent transfer. We are interested in what factors support and facilitate analogical reminding, namely because relations are more mutable than entities. Specifically, we are interested in how people remember and use relational information and what are the reasons and consequences of the mutability of relations.

Utilizing a Sensory-Motor-Perceptual Program for Kindergartens and Schools: This project aimed to investigate whether specific physical exercises aid the cognitive, social, and emotional development of preschool children. Exercises were based on the Toddler/Kindy/GymbaROO & KindyROO program (Australia) for early childhood development.