BCCCD22

Slack: ​https://bcccd.slack.com/archives/C02P9FTJQRM​​​

Lara Bertram 1,2, Jonathan D. Nelson 1,2, Azzurra Ruggeri 2,3,4
1 University of Surrey, UK
2 Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
3 Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
4 Central European University, Vienna, Austria

Humans are surprisingly good at solving extremely complex problems, navigating pseudo-infinite hypotheses spaces with only limited computational resources. In this project, we investigate the developmental trajectory of this sophisticated competence. In particular, we focus on 8- to 12-year-old children’s (planned n = 150) understanding of probabilistic uncertainty and its relationship with their information search strategies, using the code-breaking game Entropy Mastermind (EM). EM is an app-based single-player game based on the classic Mastermind game, in which players have to guess a secret code (i.e., which sequence of fruits has been randomly sampled from a jar) by making sequential queries and interpreting the feedback received. To increase the complexity of the game across levels, we manipulate the entropy in the game environment, that is, the predictability of the fruit code, by varying the initial distribution over the pool of fruits, and the length of the code to be guessed. Preliminary results (n = 9, Mage= 9.9) suggest that age predicts entropy intuitions and selection of first guesses in EM: Younger children evaluate entropy by counting the number of different kinds of items, whereas older children shift their focus towards relative proportions of kinds of items in the distribution. This is behaviorally reflected by an increased adaptivity to the probability distribution in the jar, i.e., a higher joint probability of items in first guesses, in older children. Entropy literacy, i.e., understanding of the axioms of entropy, is more pronounced in older children and predicts behavioral adaptivity to probabilistic uncertainty.

• Session 5, Wednesday, 12 Jan, 07:00 - 08:30 (UTC +0)
• Session 3, Tuesday, 11 Jan, 13:00 - 14:30 (UTC +0)