Clarkson students present youth pattern perception research

Gene MorseMon, July 6, 2026 at 6:04 PM UTC1 min readAdd Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.

POTSDAM, N.Y. (WWTI) – Clarkson University announced that two Honors Students, Isabella Makdouli and Adrian Fowler, presented research at the Human Behavior and Evolution Society conference in Morocco, focusing on how children and adolescents perceive patterns and randomness to enhance statistical literacy.

Led by Professor Andreas Wilke, the study involved participants aged 8 to 17 who engaged in a two-dimensional grid task to sort and create varied patterns.

"Children perceive patterns very differently throughout development, even from one year to the next, and differently than adults," Makdouli said. "We found that many adolescents misinterpret random patterns, but a brief educational intervention helped improve their understanding. That shows statistical reasoning and pattern perception can be strengthened through targeted instruction."

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According to the university, this research highlights that pattern perception evolves significantly during childhood and suggests that statistical reasoning can be reinforced through targeted educational strategies. The project addresses a gap in existing research, traditionally centered on adults rather than younger individuals, said Makdouli.

Support for the conference trip came from Clarkson's Department of Psychology, the Lewis School of Health Sciences, and the Institute for STEM Education, with additional funding for Makdouli from the Community of Underrepresented Professional Opportunities and support for Fowler from the Clarkson University Honors Program.

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