Learning from non-explanations: Children trust Socratic over authoritarian responses

This research investigated 4- to 8-year-old children's learning preferences based on teachers' responses to peers' pragmatic (Study 1, 2021-2024, N = 100, Mage = 6.56 years, SDage = 1.41, 50 females, 61% White) and naturalistic (Study 2, 2024, N = 101, Mage = 6.24 years, SDage = 1.50, 57 females, 55% White) questions. Children evaluated teachers providing (i) explanations with semantic content vs. nonexplanations and (ii) nonexplanation Socratic vs. authoritarian responses. Across both studies, children preferred learning from teachers who offered explanations. In Study 2, with age, children distinguished between nonexplanations, favoring teachers who provided Socratic over authoritarian responses. Overall, children increasingly distinguish between different nonexplanations based on question domain to make inferences about a teacher's future credibility.