Young children’s early deductive reasoning in number: A dialogic and linguistic approach

Abstract

In this paper I present an examination of three six year-old children’s interaction with a task intended to encourage reasoning and collaboration in number. A case is made for the importance of deductive reasoning in supporting inductive reasoning and for the potential of hypothetical deductive reasoning in supporting concept reification in early number. The children’s discourse is analysed using a framework based on opinion/belief, plausibility and deductive reasoning schema in relation to the functional use of actuality and modality linguistic terms. The analysis suggests that the children were able to transition to deductive reasoning and this was reflected in their discourse through a shift to modality, and that this shift suggested a sense of authority by the children in validating their thinking.