Talent or knowledge? Children tend to choose talent

Abstract This study examined whether children prefer a talented individual who provides random answers or an untalented individual who provides accurate, math-based information when choosing an informant (epistemic trust) or trust (interpersonal trust). Two groups were formed: an epistemic trust (information source selection) group ( n = 193, ages 4–8) and an interpersonal trust group ( n = 183, ages 4–8). Children watched videos of identical twins wearing different-colored T-shirts. One twin was talented (able to juggle balls) but guessed quantities randomly, while the other was untalented (unable to juggle) but used numerical information to compare quantities accurately. After viewing the videos, children indicated whom they would ask for information or whom they would trust. In the epistemic trust group, 56.8% of children chose the talented individual, while in the interpersonal trust group, 63.8% did so. In the informant selection (epistemic trust) group, this preference increased with age. In the interpersonal trust group, none of the examined variables (children’s age, gender, parental education, or income) significantly influenced children’s choices. These findings suggest that children place greater weight on observable competence than on epistemic accuracy when making trust and informant-selection judgments across early to middle childhood.