The primacy of historical and material conditions in the development of cognition: a critique of "cross-cultural" research in the Vygotskian tradition
Date
2014-03-28
Authors
Tlokotsi, Matsiliso Mary
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This research report compares the orientation and findings of the socio-historical
research initiated by Vygotsky (1978 ) with thatof various Western researchers.
Specifically, the report attempts to establish whether there is a continuity between
the tradition o f research inspired by Vygotsky on the one hand and the crosscultural
research tradition, on the other. The report concludes that there are
fundamental differences between the two traditions and argues that Vygotsky’s
focus on material conditions in the development o f cognition is significantly
different to a focus on culture as the determinant of cognition.
KEYWORDS
Dialectical-historical materialism, Socio-historical, Socio-cuitural,
Cognitive competency. Scientific concepts. Spontaneous concepts,
Universalist. Relativist, Context-specific, Cognitive performance.