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Young Children Teach Objective Facts as Opposed to Subjective Opinion

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Title: Young Children Teach Objective Facts as Opposed to Subjective Opinion
Language: English
Authors: Fanxiao Wani Qiu (ORCID 0000-0002-8340-1293), Elizabeth Gottesman, Jeanie Cox, Henrike Moll
Source: Developmental Psychology. 2026 62(3):557-571.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Young Children, Opinions, Evidence, Evaluative Thinking, Social Cognition, Generalization, Sharing Behavior, Bias, Communication (Thought Transfer)
DOI: 10.1037/dev0001946
ISSN: 0012-1649
1939-0599
Abstract: We examined an understudied aspect of children's pedagogical cognition and investigated whether children selectively transmit objective information. In three experiments (N = 168), 5- and 6-year-olds were asked to distinguish between objective and subjective statements (Experiment 1) and to choose objective or subjective information to pass on to others (Experiments 2 and 3). Children of both ages distinguished between the two types of statements, OR = 19.1, and preferentially transmitted more objective than subjective information when asked to teach, OR = 5.06. A control condition, in which participants were asked to share information with a peer, found that 5- and 6-year-olds also favored sharing objective information in a nonpedagogical context, OR = 1.96. Critically, children taught more objective information when placed in a pedagogical stance compared to a conversational context, OR = 2.31. These findings contribute to the growing body of work suggesting that children recognize teaching as a unique communicative mechanism, one that calls for the propagation of objective information, not subjective opinion. Our study furthers the understanding of how young children's pedagogical knowledge and competence develop.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503263
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Young Children Teach Objective Facts as Opposed to Subjective Opinion
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fanxiao+Wani+Qiu%22">Fanxiao Wani Qiu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8340-1293">0000-0002-8340-1293</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+Gottesman%22">Elizabeth Gottesman</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jeanie+Cox%22">Jeanie Cox</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Henrike+Moll%22">Henrike Moll</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Developmental+Psychology%22"><i>Developmental Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2026 62(3):557-571.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 15
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Young+Children%22">Young Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Opinions%22">Opinions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evidence%22">Evidence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evaluative+Thinking%22">Evaluative Thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Cognition%22">Social Cognition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Generalization%22">Generalization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sharing+Behavior%22">Sharing Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bias%22">Bias</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication+%28Thought+Transfer%29%22">Communication (Thought Transfer)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dev0001946
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  Data: 0012-1649<br />1939-0599
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: We examined an understudied aspect of children's pedagogical cognition and investigated whether children selectively transmit objective information. In three experiments (N = 168), 5- and 6-year-olds were asked to distinguish between objective and subjective statements (Experiment 1) and to choose objective or subjective information to pass on to others (Experiments 2 and 3). Children of both ages distinguished between the two types of statements, OR = 19.1, and preferentially transmitted more objective than subjective information when asked to teach, OR = 5.06. A control condition, in which participants were asked to share information with a peer, found that 5- and 6-year-olds also favored sharing objective information in a nonpedagogical context, OR = 1.96. Critically, children taught more objective information when placed in a pedagogical stance compared to a conversational context, OR = 2.31. These findings contribute to the growing body of work suggesting that children recognize teaching as a unique communicative mechanism, one that calls for the propagation of objective information, not subjective opinion. Our study furthers the understanding of how young children's pedagogical knowledge and competence develop.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1503263
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        Value: 10.1037/dev0001946
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
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        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 557
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      – SubjectFull: Young Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Opinions
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      – SubjectFull: Evidence
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      – SubjectFull: Evaluative Thinking
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      – SubjectFull: Social Cognition
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      – SubjectFull: Generalization
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      – SubjectFull: Sharing Behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Bias
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      – SubjectFull: Communication (Thought Transfer)
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      – TitleFull: Young Children Teach Objective Facts as Opposed to Subjective Opinion
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            NameFull: Elizabeth Gottesman
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            NameFull: Jeanie Cox
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              Y: 2026
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              Value: 62
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            – TitleFull: Developmental Psychology
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