Classification Strategies Among Cape York Schoolchildren

Extract

It is a widely-held view that the thought processes of “non-industrial” peoples are radically different from those of Western educated man. Major differences are purported to lie in the capacity for abstract thought and logical analysis, and in the separation of cognition from affect, or “reason” from emotion.

There are obvious differences in cognitive contents across cultures. Different values and beliefs are held by different peoples. And there are obvious differences in cognitive styles. One of the best examples I know was presented by Michael Cole and his associates, working among unschooled African tribesmen. The researchers were investigating methods of classification, and had asked the men to group together similar items from a miscellaneous collection of objects. The tendency among “European”-educated adolescents and adults is to form superordinate groups – for example, groups of weapons or of fruits might be made. The Africans tended to group things on a functional basis, for example, a knife and orange might be placed together because you use the knife to cut the orange. The researchers found, however, that such concrete reasons for the groupings were rarely given. When asked why they had made certain selections, the men usually answered : “Because a wise man would do it so.” Becoming a little impatient with this reply, one of the researchers asked how a fool would do it – and was quickly answered with groups of weapons, of fruits and so on!

One anthropologist who opposes the view of differences in cognitive structures between cultures is Levi Strauss. He holds that there is no difference in the way the mind works from culture to culture – there are simply differences in the strategies by which man makes nature accessible. Both traditional and scientific thought systems seek to order or systematise information. The difference is in the attributes used in imposing order – in forming general classes out of various objects and experiences encountered.