The Animism Controversy Revisited: A Probability Analysis

Abstract

Consideration was given to the methodological issues surrounding the Piaget-Huang controversy. A probability model, based on the difference between the expected and observed animistic and deanimistic responses, was suggested as an improved technique for the assessment of animism. The probability model was applied on the answers of a group of 60 children. The results indicated that an animistic tendency was prevalent among 11-year-old normals, while six-year-old normals and 11-year-old retardates had been guessing. Analysis of children's responses revealed that the type of response does not necessarily reflect the type of underlying thought process.