The ABCs of analogical abilities: Evidence for formal analogical reasoning abilities in 24-month-olds

Solving formal analogy problems requires the identification of an initial term and the transformation that occurs between the initial two terms as well as the determination of the final term. Experiment I tested 24-month-olds' ability to determine final terms when they were shown the initial term and told the transformation that was to occur. Children selected their responses from an array of two principled distracters. The children were able to determine the correct final term when they were given information about the initial term and transformation. Experiment 2 tested 24-month-olds' ability to solve final-term problems, partial analogies, and complete analogies. The children solved all the three types of problems.