The cognitive mechanisms underlying selective learning in early childhood

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Young children are constantly exposed to new information about the world around them. Though they have a reputation to be gullible, research has demonstrated that even in the first few years of their lives young children can evaluate sources of information and selectively prefer to learn from some sources rather than others. This may be considered a very early form of critical thinking. The purpose of the current research is to explore the cognitive mechanisms underlying selective learning abilities, primarily in early childhood but also throughout development.