Final answer:
The ability to solve conservation problems in children is most closely associated with memory, an essential cognitive skill for information processing required to understand that quantities remain consistent despite changes in form or presentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The capacity to solve conservation problems is related to the development of memory as an information processing capacity.
Conservation problems refer to a child's ability to determine that a quantity doesn't change even when it is arranged differently. This concept was introduced by psychologist Jean Piaget and is used to gauge a child's cognitive development stage. Solving such problems requires the child to remember past experiences and apply logic, which involves the function of memory. When we mention memory, we're discussing a cognitive ability that is critical for information processing, which in turn is fundamental for problem solving.
Thus, the ability to understand that quantities remain the same despite changes in shape or appearance relies heavily on a child's memory and not creativity, emotional intelligence, or physical strength. As children's memory improves, they become better at storing, processing, and retrieving information, all of which are key factors in understanding and applying conservation concepts.