Goswami Usha
Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
Br J Psychol. 2001 Feb;92 Part 1:257-277.
British cognitive developmental psychology is characterized by its interest in philosophical questions, its preference for linking basic research to applied issues in education and cognitive disorders, and its willingness to learn both methodologically and theoretically from work in animal psychology and in physiology more generally. It has also been influenced profoundly by Jean Piaget's cognitive stage theory although in general British work has focused on demonstrating early strengths, rather than early deficits, in infant and child cognition. Following an overview of British work that encompasses past and present interests, issues and challenges for the future are highlighted. While the perspectives of the founding members of the British Psychological Society (BPS), as outlined by Edgell (1947), are still apparent in British research in cognitive developmental psychology today, it is argued that future cognitive work must become even more interdisciplinary and that the symbiotic relationship between research in adult cognition and in cognitive development needs greater recognition.
英国认知发展心理学的特点在于，它对哲学问题感兴趣，倾向于将基础研究与教育及认知障碍方面的应用问题联系起来，并且愿意在方法论和理论层面借鉴动物心理学乃至更广泛的生理学研究成果。让·皮亚杰的认知阶段理论也对其产生了深远影响，不过总体而言，英国的研究工作侧重于展现婴幼儿及儿童认知方面的早期优势，而非早期缺陷。在对涵盖过去与当前兴趣点的英国研究工作进行概述之后，文中着重强调了未来面临的问题与挑战。虽然如埃杰尔（1947年）所概述的，英国心理学会（BPS）创始成员的观点在如今英国认知发展心理学研究中依然明显，但有人认为，未来的认知研究必须变得更具跨学科性，而且成人认知研究与认知发展研究之间的共生关系需要得到更多认可。
