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Computational Approaches Reveal Developmental Shifts in Exploratory Play

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Title: Computational Approaches Reveal Developmental Shifts in Exploratory Play
Language: English
Authors: Joseph Colantonio (ORCID 0000-0002-6333-9250), Ilona Bass (ORCID 0000-0002-8192-7646), Yee Lee Shing (ORCID 0000-0001-8922-7292), Sobanawartiny Wijeakumar (ORCID 0000-0002-1008-3407), Courtney McKay, Eva Rafetseder (ORCID 0000-0002-9816-8607), Allyson P. Mackey, Elizabeth Bonawitz
Source: Developmental Science. 2025 28(6).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Computation, Cognitive Development, Children, Discovery Learning, Play, Toys, Child Behavior, Task Analysis, Markov Processes, Persistence, Age Differences, Child Development, Developmental Stages
DOI: 10.1111/desc.70081
ISSN: 1363-755X
1467-7687
Abstract: Although exploratory play is considered a hallmark of cognitive development and learning, relatively few studies have been able to quantitatively characterize the shifts that may occur in children's approach to exploration. One reason for this gap is due to challenges coding and analyzing children's exploratory play behavior. In our paper, we employ a novel computational modeling approach to understand whether and how children's exploratory play patterns shift in early childhood (3- to 11-years-old). We analyze data from children (N = 432) across five different experiments that varied in the type of exploration task (including novel toys, novel topics, and novel envelopes). Children's behaviors were coded action-by-action according to whether children repeated an action on the same type of target, switched to a novel target, or terminated play. Our computational Markov model searches over the space of possible "stay," "switch," and "end" parameters to quantify child-specific transition probabilities. We find that overall, older children are less likely to perseverate, more likely to switch, and more likely to end the task earlier. Our approach provides a demonstration of how Markov models can be used to map the process of play, providing insight into theories of developmental changes in exploration.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/agyju/?view_only=62c27a0372474e93a0f5a7c05ceaafb5
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1487255
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Computational Approaches Reveal Developmental Shifts in Exploratory Play
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joseph+Colantonio%22">Joseph Colantonio</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6333-9250">0000-0002-6333-9250</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ilona+Bass%22">Ilona Bass</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8192-7646">0000-0002-8192-7646</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yee+Lee+Shing%22">Yee Lee Shing</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8922-7292">0000-0001-8922-7292</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sobanawartiny+Wijeakumar%22">Sobanawartiny Wijeakumar</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1008-3407">0000-0002-1008-3407</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Courtney+McKay%22">Courtney McKay</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Eva+Rafetseder%22">Eva Rafetseder</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9816-8607">0000-0002-9816-8607</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Allyson+P%2E+Mackey%22">Allyson P. Mackey</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+Bonawitz%22">Elizabeth Bonawitz</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Developmental+Science%22"><i>Developmental Science</i></searchLink>. 2025 28(6).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 14
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: 10.1111/desc.70081
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  Data: 1363-755X<br />1467-7687
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: Although exploratory play is considered a hallmark of cognitive development and learning, relatively few studies have been able to quantitatively characterize the shifts that may occur in children's approach to exploration. One reason for this gap is due to challenges coding and analyzing children's exploratory play behavior. In our paper, we employ a novel computational modeling approach to understand whether and how children's exploratory play patterns shift in early childhood (3- to 11-years-old). We analyze data from children (N = 432) across five different experiments that varied in the type of exploration task (including novel toys, novel topics, and novel envelopes). Children's behaviors were coded action-by-action according to whether children repeated an action on the same type of target, switched to a novel target, or terminated play. Our computational Markov model searches over the space of possible "stay," "switch," and "end" parameters to quantify child-specific transition probabilities. We find that overall, older children are less likely to perseverate, more likely to switch, and more likely to end the task earlier. Our approach provides a demonstration of how Markov models can be used to map the process of play, providing insight into theories of developmental changes in exploration.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: https://osf.io/agyju/?view_only=62c27a0372474e93a0f5a7c05ceaafb5
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1487255
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        Value: 10.1111/desc.70081
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 14
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      – SubjectFull: Computation
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      – SubjectFull: Cognitive Development
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      – SubjectFull: Children
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      – SubjectFull: Markov Processes
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      – SubjectFull: Age Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Child Development
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      – SubjectFull: Developmental Stages
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