ABSTRACT
The changes about which we have hitherto questioned our subjects have been both predictable (for anyone who is familiar with the phenomenon) and natural or, at least, partly natural. They were the result of the execution of a genetic programme (growth of a tree), the interaction of such a programme with environmental factors (illness, development of psychological abilities), or of a physical cause (thawing). We were therefore interested in investigating children's representations of changes which result from human activity and which are not necessarily predictable. This may well enable us to enlarge our knowledge of the general schemata of change which are employed by children. We are also curious to observe whether some of the major trends noted in the development of the diachronic approach to natural phenomena are also encountered in the representations of changes associated with human activity.
