Cognition and development Flashcards
What did Vygotsky agree with?
That there is qualitative differences in children’s cognition as they grow.
What did Vygotsky disagree with and argue t?
Vygotsky argued the differences in c cognitive development between children was due to social/ cultural differences.
Give an example of Vygotsky’s argument
Elemental functions such as memory are innate/ biological.
Cultural influences causes higher mental ability
What does Vygotsky argue how children learn?
Learning is a social process relying on language and the input of ‘experts.’
Knowledge is interment before its intramental
Define the Zone of proximal development
This is the gap between a child’d current level of function (without the aid of an adult) and what they can potentially do with an ‘expert’
What is scaffolding?
Scaffolding is the process of helping a learner cross the ZPD, given their stage fo development.
What are the levels of scaffolding?
L5 (most help) = demonstration
L4 = preparation for the child
L3 = Indication of materials
L2 = specific verbal instructions
L1 (least help) = general prompts
Describe the role of language in cognitive development
This allows children to develop intellectually
What does intermental mean
This is between the expert and less expert individual
What does intramental
This is within the mind of the less expert individual
How is research support for ZPD a strength of Vygotsky?
Evidence from Roazzi and Bryant (1998) = children 4-5 yrs estimated the number of sweets in a jar –> working with ‘advanced children’ gotten closer
Shows children can develop additional reasoning skills when working with experts.
Supports ZPD as a valid concept.
How is the application of Vygotsky’s ideas a strength?
Vygotsky has been highly influential in education in the 21st century.
Teaching assistants have been used to scaffold children through their ZPD.
Evidence from Keer and Verhaeghe (2005) = works.
What is a counterpoint to the application of Vygotsky?
The ideas of Vygotsky has useful application but may not be universal.
Liu and Matthews (2005) = Chinese classes of up to 50 children learn effectively without interactions with tutors.
Vygostky overestimated the importance of scaffolding.
How does Baillargeon define knowledge of the physical world?
The extent to which we understand how the physical world works (Piaget underestimated this in children, according to Baillargeon)
What is object permanence?
The understanding that objects continue to exist when they leave the visual field
