Project description
Explaining how children are lifting their abstract concepts
Manifestations of first abstract concepts in humans can be observed as early as in infancy. Defined as general notions expressed in the mind, speech or thought, they are fundamental in building blocks of thoughts, and are crucial in all aspects of cognition. But to understand how they are developing in early childhood is still a challenge for science. The EU-funded ConceptNet project will investigate this issue based on an assumption of the crucial role of cultural hints offered by the language. A novelty approach from the dynamic networks field will enable capturing the complexity of children’s linguistic input. ConceptNet will help to refine science education at schools.
Objective
Concepts are mental representations that organize experience. They are the building blocks of ideas (e.g. the thought “birds are animals” requires the knowledge of both the concepts “birds” and the concept “animal”). They enable inductive reasoning and predictive inferences which guide behavior and explanation. Some concepts are already present in infancy. These early concepts are richer than previously thought. However, much of the abstract and sophisticated concepts that make human cognition so special (e.g. scientific concepts) are not present at birth. Thus one of the most exciting challenges in psychology is to understand how abstract concepts develop. Much of the abstract concepts that form the basis of our ability to organize the world and make inferences (e.g. “animal”, “artefact”, “alive beings”) have non-observable shared properties (e.g. a cat and a flower are perceptually quite different, but both belong to the concept alive beings). Thus, the refinement of abstract concepts requires access to cultural cues, mostly via language, which provide information beyond what can be obtained through the senses.,, The goal of this project is to explore how children’s conceptual development can benefit form the language they hear around them. To capture the complexity of the linguistic input as well as the children developing conceptual knowledge, I use methods from the growing field of dynamic networks. I will carry out my research at the Institute of Complex Systems, Paris Île-de-France (ISC-PIF). I will also use the model to provide insights about how scientific concepts can be taught efficiently at school. To this end, I will collaborate with experts in science education at the secondment foundation La Main à La pâte (LAMAP), which is the leading French NGO in developing and promoting best practices in science education.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences political sciences political policies civil society civil society organisations nongovernmental organizations
- social sciences psychology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75794 PARIS
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.