Conventionality and Intentionality as Potential Contributors to Ideational Praxis in Japanese Preschoolers: An Exploratory Study with Correspondence Analysis

Abstract

Ideation is an essential central concept in sensory integration theory. The Test of Ideational Praxis (TIP) (May-Benson, ) is the first instrument developed to specifically assess children's ideational abilities but qualitative differences of its performance are not well examined. The purpose of the present study was to explore the components of ideational abilities that influenced the TIP score or its developmental change. The TIP was administered to 119 Japanese preschoolers, aged 3-6 years. The demonstrated actions were categorized based on the scoring criteria, and scores were calculated by summing the number of actions. Correspondence analysis was conducted to summarize the data into several components. Results indicate that conventionality and intentionality are contributors to ideational abilities in preschoolers. Conventionality was significantly related to the development of ideation, while intentionality was significantly associated with the TIP score. These results suggest that action differences during the TIP, in addition to the score, may be helpful for interpreting the results of the TIP when it is used clinically. Although the data does not sufficiently explain these two components, the results add new evidence for understanding preschoolers' ideational praxis. Further research is needed on factors related to the TIP score and development of ideational abilities. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.