This study investigated 3‐ to 5‐year‐olds' (N = 64, 37 girls, 62.5% White, data collected between 2021‐2022) ability to use probabilistic information gleaned through active search to appropriately change or maintain expectations. In an online fishing game, children first learned that one of two ponds was good for catching fish. During a subsequent testing phase, children searched the ponds for fish. Half saw outcomes that were probabilistically consistent with training, and the other half saw outcomes that were probabilistically inconsistent. Children in the Inconsistent condition adapted their search strategies, showing evidence of changing their expectations. Those in the Consistent condition maintained their initial search strategy. Trial‐by‐trial analyses suggested that children used a combination of heuristic and information integration strategies to guide their search behavior.

中文翻译：

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学龄前儿童使用概率证据灵活地改变或保持对主动搜索任务的期望


本研究调查了 3 至 5 岁儿童（N = 64,37 名女孩，62.5% 白人，2021 年至 2022 年间收集的数据）使用通过主动搜索收集的概率信息来适当改变或维持期望的能力。在一款在线钓鱼游戏中，孩子们首先了解到两个池塘中的一个适合捕鱼。在随后的测试阶段，孩子们在池塘中寻找鱼。一半的研究结果在概率上与训练一致，而另一半的研究结果在概率上不一致。不一致情况下的儿童调整了他们的搜索策略，显示出改变他们期望的证据。处于 Consistent 条件的 Consistent （一致） 保持其初始检索策略。逐项试验分析表明，儿童使用启发式和信息整合策略的组合来指导他们的搜索行为。