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

本研究的目的是为了阐明幼儿在自由游戏中数字和数量表达的文化和发展差异。共有33名儿童（日本18名，美国15名）参与了这项为期3年的纵向研究。他们的自由玩耍大约每个月被录像一次，每次50分钟。研究得出了以下结果。(1)一个明显的跨文化差异是，日本幼儿每次观察的数字和定量表达总量明显高于美国幼儿。这一发现适用于所有年龄段。日本儿童的数字表达量是美国儿童的7.6倍，日本儿童的数量表达量是美国儿童的4.5倍。(2)在日本和美国，每次观察所暴露的定量表达多于数值表达（日本数值表达为5.5，日本定量表达为8.9，美国数值表达为1.5，美国定量表达为2.2）。(3)在数值表达方面，日本幼儿使用的“集合物、人等”和“读写”表达多于美国儿童。(4)另一个有趣的跨文化差异表现在定量表达上。日本儿童使用“密集幅度”表达的频率是美国儿童的16.4倍。他们典型的“密集幅度”表达是“迅速或匆忙”，这一现象反映了日本父母对孩子的教导。

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.