Question: To what extent does the evidence from psychological research support Vygotsky’s view that children’s play is a ‘transition’ from ‘the purely situational constraints of early childhood’ to adult abstract thought?
Answer: The research evidence does not provide conclusive evidence for the learning and benefits to child development through play but evidence does exist that play is used to master reality and to conform to society and can help development in this sense. This will be discussed in further detail throughout this essay supported by research evidence.
A number of correlational and empirical studies have been conducted comparing children who engage in more play behaviour to children who engage in less, in order to stipulate the amount of development produced in natural play environments. The results specified are inconclusive as other factors e.g. gender or personality instead of intelligence or role making skills may have affected the results (Smith 1993). The commanding evidence produced from these studies is that the amount of time spent playing is neither strongly beneficial nor harmful t...(short extract)
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- Subject: Education
- Course: Education General
- Level: Degree
- Year: 2nd/3rd
- Mark: 69%
- Words: 4166
- Date submitted: January 08, 2009
- Date written: April, 2005
- References: Yes
- Document type: Essay*
- Essay ID: 26
