In order to test hypotheses growing out of a consideration of the role of vision in the development of a differentiated capacity for imagination, 20 pairs of otherwise matched blind and sighted children (aged 8 to 12) were studied. Interviews and spontaneous accounts of their play, fantasies, and dreams were recorded and rated independently by judges for Imaginativeness. Results indicated that sighted children proved more imaginative in all three areas, with blind children showing generally a concrete and limited fantasy content except for their greater reliance on imaginary companions.
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