The aim of this study is to identify patterns of the cognitive planning process of young children emerging in the context of a problem solving task. Using a complex dynamic systems approach, this paper depicts the main features of cognitive planning in the short term. Participants were 45 preschool children (aged 3.5 and 3.6 years) of which two case studies are described in detail. The microgenetic method was used to capture, in two months, the planning process in real time during six sessions of data collection. Thus, 96 measuring points were obtained for each child of the sample. The instrument used was a problem solving task in a virtual format, which requires the development of a plan to attain the goal. The first part of the analysis characterizes the children's planning performance by means of cluster analysis. Two clusters were identified as a result of this analysis. In order to illustrate the performance of the sample, one child from each cluster was randomly selected as a case study. The second part of the analysis describes the two case studies. The State Space Grids (SSG) technique was used to show the short-term emergence of cognitive planning. Results of the case studies revealed two types of performance: a reduction pattern and a stable pattern of cognitive planning. These patterns indicate the ability of children to integrate the constraints of the task and consider future states in their actions. In contrast to the literature, the findings of this study reveal the resources in planning skills of preschoolers, such as self-regulation of actions aimed at attaining a goal and anticipation of future states. Key words: cognitive development, computer game, cognitive planning, preschoolers, state space grid technique, variability.
LA EMERGENCIA DE LA PLANIFICACIÓN COGNITIVA A CORTO PLAZO: DESEMPEÑO DE NIÑOS PREESCOLARES EN UNA TAREA DE RESOLUCIÓN DE PROBLEMAS
ResumenEl objetivo del presente estudio es identificar los patrones del proceso de planificación cognitiva de niños pequeños que tienen lugar en el contexto de una situación de resolución de problemas. Utilizando un enfoque de sistemas dinámicos complejos, el presente estudio describe las principales características de la planificación cognitiva a corto plazo. Los participantes fueron 45 niños en edad preescolar (3,5 y 3,6 años), de los cuales se describen en detalle dos estudios de caso. El método microgenético fue utilizado para capturar, en dos meses, el proceso de planificación en tiempo real durante seis sesiones de recogida de datos. De esta manera se obtuvieron 96 puntos de medición por cada niño de la muestra. Como instrumento se utilizó una tarea de resolución de problemas en un formato virtual, que exige la elaboración de un plan para alcanzar la meta. La primera parte del análisis consistió en caracterizar los desempeños de planificación de la muestra mediante el análisis de conglomerados. Como resultado, dos clústers fueron identificados. Posteriormente, para ilustrar los desempeños de la muestra, se seleccionó al azar un niño...