Sixty Japanese children ranging in age from 3 years 4 months to 7 years 5 months were individually interviewed with three Piagetian tasks. Children's levels of representation were assessed by asking for a graphic representation of 4 dishes, 6 pencils, 8 small blocks etc. A conservation-of-number task was then given to assess children's level of abstraction. It was found (a) that there is a close relationship between children's levels of abstraction and of representation, and (b) that children can represent at or below their level of abstraction but not above this level. (Author)