In search of Vygotsky's blocks : Exploring CEV, BIK, MUR, and LAG in South Africa

[摘要] This research exercise aimed to replicate use of the instrument ('Vygotsky’s Blocks”) of Vygotsky andSakharov (1928-1934) in combination with the 22 wooden blocks and the later adaptations andscoring framework of Hanfmann and Kasanin (1937; 1942). This procedure – the functional methodof double stimulation – examined new concept formation from early childhood to adulthood (N=60subjects, aged three- to 76-years-old) to establish whether contemporary adults and children producedthe same or similar patterns as those described by Vygotsky (1986). The study found adevelopmental trend consistent with Vygotsky’s (1986) writings on the ontogenesis of conceptformation. The path from the syncretic, to the concrete and factual, to the intermediate phase beforetrue conceptual thought becomes possible was reflected in a positive correlation between the age ofthe subjects and their modes of thinking. This verified Vygotsky’s assertion that true conceptualthinking only becomes possible in adolescence. This study aimed to encourage further research withthis procedure to confirm the trends found by this study and to validate the adapted scoring methodof Hanfmann and Kasanin (1942) for the purposes of cross-sectional use.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand