Wissensentwicklung und Wissenserwerb

Presents some research issues in developmental psychology that involve the contents of knowledge and cognitive processes, and uses selected empirical findings to describe important features of age-typical knowledge development. Processes of probabilistic, nonanalytical, and dual concept formation are used to discuss the acquisition of concepts as one of the most fundamental achievements of the cognitive system. Fundamental concepts are illustrated with the example of causality. Taxonomic, schematic, and intuitive forms of concepts as well as ideas on metaknowledge are discussed in the development of complex knowledge organizations. Regarding structural constraints in the acquisition of knowledge, examples are used to describe area- and task-specific constraints as well as constraints due to prior knowledge and the maturation process.

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