Cross-cultural study on young children's numerical and quantitative expressions during free play.

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The purpose of this research was to clarify the cultural and developmental differences of young children's numerical and quantitative expressions during free play. A total of 33 children (Japan : 18, US : 15) participated in this longitudinal study for 3 years. Their free play was videotaped approximately once a month for 50 minutes.The following results emerged from the research.(1)A clear cross-cultural difference is that Japanese young children's total numerical and quantitative expressions per observation were overpoweringly more compared with that S of American young children. This finding was shown in all age stages. The mean Japanese children's numerical expressions were 7.6 times as many as US children's expressions, and the mean Japanese children's quantitative expressions were 4.5 times as many as US children.(2)Both in Japan and US, more quantitative expressions per observations were exposed than numerical expressions (Japanese numerical expressions : 5.5, Japanese quantitative expressions : 8.9, US numerical expressions : 1.5, US quantitative expressions : 2.2)(3)As for the numerical expressions, Japanese young children used more "collection of objects, people, etc." and "Reading and writing" expressions than US children.(4)Another interesting cross-cultural difference was shown in the quantitative expressions. Japanese children used exceedingly more "Intensive magnitude" expressions (16.4 times as many as US). Their typical "Intensive magnitude" expression was "rapidly or hastily", and this phenomenon reflects the Japanese parent's instruction to children.