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Recognizing the future utility of a solution: When do children choose to retain and share an object to solve a future problem?

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Title: Recognizing the future utility of a solution: When do children choose to retain and share an object to solve a future problem?
Authors: Ockerby, Zoe (AUTHOR), Redshaw, Jonathan (AUTHOR), Suddendorf, Thomas (AUTHOR)
Source: British Journal of Developmental Psychology. Nov2025, Vol. 43 Issue 4, p958-973. 16p.
Subjects: Play, Cognitive testing, Task performance, Research funding, Neural development, Fisher exact test, Problem solving, Decision making, Descriptive statistics, Experimental design, Reward (Psychology), Social skills, Interpersonal relations, Critical thinking, Child behavior, Children
Abstract: Humans' ability to recognize the future utility of a solution is fundamental to our capacity for innovation. It motivates us to—for instance—retain and share useful tools, transforming one‐time solutions into innovations that change the future. However, developmental research on innovation has thus far primarily focused on children's capacity to create solutions, rather than recognition of their future utility. Here we examined children's tendency to retain and share a solution that would be useful again at a later point. Across two rooms, 4‐ to 9‐year‐olds (N = 83, M = 83.59 months, SD = 21.21 months, 43 girls) were given a series of time‐limited tasks which could be solved by building and using a tool. When given the opportunity to transport a tool between the first and second rooms, children from age 6 onwards took the tool that would be useful again above chance levels. When subsequently asked to secure a solution for another child, only 8‐ to 9‐year‐olds chose this tool above chance. Positive age‐partialled correlations between children's retaining and sharing suggest that these behaviours may reflect a common underlying capacity for recognizing future utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of British Journal of Developmental Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Recognizing the future utility of a solution: When do children choose to retain and share an object to solve a future problem?
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ockerby%2C+Zoe%22">Ockerby, Zoe</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Redshaw%2C+Jonathan%22">Redshaw, Jonathan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Suddendorf%2C+Thomas%22">Suddendorf, Thomas</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Humans' ability to recognize the future utility of a solution is fundamental to our capacity for innovation. It motivates us to—for instance—retain and share useful tools, transforming one‐time solutions into innovations that change the future. However, developmental research on innovation has thus far primarily focused on children's capacity to create solutions, rather than recognition of their future utility. Here we examined children's tendency to retain and share a solution that would be useful again at a later point. Across two rooms, 4‐ to 9‐year‐olds (N = 83, M = 83.59 months, SD = 21.21 months, 43 girls) were given a series of time‐limited tasks which could be solved by building and using a tool. When given the opportunity to transport a tool between the first and second rooms, children from age 6 onwards took the tool that would be useful again above chance levels. When subsequently asked to secure a solution for another child, only 8‐ to 9‐year‐olds chose this tool above chance. Positive age‐partialled correlations between children's retaining and sharing suggest that these behaviours may reflect a common underlying capacity for recognizing future utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of British Journal of Developmental Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=188520169
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/bjdp.12566
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 958
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Play
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cognitive testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Task performance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Neural development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fisher exact test
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Problem solving
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Decision making
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experimental design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reward (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Critical thinking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Children
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Recognizing the future utility of a solution: When do children choose to retain and share an object to solve a future problem?
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
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          Name:
            NameFull: Ockerby, Zoe
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          Name:
            NameFull: Redshaw, Jonathan
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            NameFull: Suddendorf, Thomas
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0261510X
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              Value: 43
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: British Journal of Developmental Psychology
              Type: main
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