Exploring the capability to reason backwards: An experimental study with children, adolescents, and young adults

- We investigate the capability to reason backwards among different age groups.
- Our modified race game allows testing this capability already at an age of 6.
- In line with previous research, subjects have difficulties with backward analysis.
- We find that these difficulties diminish with age.
- Male and female subjects differ regarding the capability to reason backwards.

This is the first study investigating the development of the capability to reason backwards in children, adolescents, and young adults aged 6 to 23 under controlled laboratory conditions. The experimental design employs a modified version of the race game. As in the original game, subjects need to apply backward analysis in order to solve the games. We find that subjects' capability to reason backwards improves with age, but that this process systematically differs across genders. Our repetition of the games indicates that differences exist also in learning between age groups and across genders.