We investigated children’s success with a solution method and conservatism to this solution over
five response trials. We predicted, first, that children who received social information as compared with
the control group would socially learn as indicated by increased success, but that a degraded (vs. full)
demonstration would reduce success as measured by latency to success. Second, any model bias would
be most pronounced when social information lacked evidence of efficacy and efficiency because the
demonstrations would create the most uncertainty. Third, once children have achieved a successful
solution, conservatism to this solution would be greatest when they are uncertain of the alternative
method. Thus, children who witness two complete and efficient solutions would be predicted to be
motivated to explore both demonstrated methods, whereas those with the least complete and
inefficient demonstration would be predicted to show more canalization to a particular method.