% pubman genre = article @article{item_3616922, title = {{The role of conventionality and design in children{\textquoteright}s function judgments about malfunctioning artifacts}}, author = {Fong, Frankie T. K. and Puebla, Guillermo and Nielsen, Mark}, language = {eng}, issn = {0022-0965}, doi = {10.1016/j.jecp.2023.105835}, publisher = {Academic Press}, year = {2024}, date = {2024-04}, abstract = {{This study investigated the individual influences of conventionality and designer{\textquoteright}s intent on function judgments of possibly malfunctioning artifacts. Children aged 4 and 5 years and 6 to 8 years were presented with stories about an artifact with two equally plausible functions, one labeled as either conventional or designed. Subsequently, a character attempted to use the artifact for the cued function, which resulted in either malfunction or successful use. The children{\textquoteright}s task was to identify the real function of the artifact. When the use attempt succeeded, 4- and 5-year-olds preferred conventional functions to the alternative (but did not show a clear preference between design functions and the alternative), and 6- to 8-year-olds preferred conventional and designed functions to the alternative. In case of malfunction, children{\textquoteright}s choices were at chance, where the effect of either conventional or design cues was less salient. This contrasts with a baseline condition where children avoided the malfunctioning alternatives. Presenting additional cues about an artifact{\textquoteright}s function can affect function judgments in cases of malfunction.}}, journal = {{Journal of Experimental Child Psychology}}, volume = {240}, eid = {105835}, }