Cognitive Theories of Development (Piaget & Vygotsky)

Question 1

What does the term “schemes” mean with regards to Piaget and his theory of cognitive development.

Answer 1

The knowledge/procedures/relationships used to understand and function in the world.

Question 2

True or false: according to Piaget, people try to to find order, structure, and predictability in their existence.

Answer 2

True. He called this the drive for “equilibrium”.

Question 3

According to Piaget, what 2 processes allow children to adapt to their environments?

Answer 3

1. Assimilation
2. Accommodation

Question 4

What does the term “assimilation” mean with regards to children adapting to their environment?

Answer 4

A new experience in the environment is incorporated into an existing scheme.

Question 5

What does the term “accommodation” mean with regards to children adapting to their environment?

Answer 5

An existing scheme is changed to accommodate a new experience in the environment.

Question 6

True or False: interaction with the physical environment is critical for cognitive development.

Answer 6

True.

Question 7

True or False: Interaction with other people is helpful but not critical for cognitive development.

Answer 7

False, social interaction is critical.

Question 8

What are Piaget’s 4 stages of cognitive development, listed from youngest to oldest?

Answer 8

1. Sensorimotor
2. Properational
3. Concrete operational
4. Formal operational

Question 9

What main understandings are being formed during the “sensorimotor” stage of Piaget’s levels of cognitive development?

Answer 9

Formation of object permanence and shift from reflexive behaviour to goal-directed behaviour.

Question 10

During which of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development do we begin to exhibit empathy and move away from egocentric thinking?

Answer 10

During the concrete operational stage.

Question 11

During which of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development do we start to use symbols to represent objects in the world?

Answer 11

During the preoperational stage.

Question 12

During approximately what time period are children in Piaget’s “sensorimotor” stage of cognitive development?

Answer 12

Birth to 2 years.

Question 13

During approximately what time period are children in Piagets “preoperational” stage of cognitive development?

Answer 13

2 to 7 years old.

Question 14

During approximately what time period are children in Piaget’s “concrete operational” stage of cognitive development?

Answer 14

7 to 11 years old.

Question 15

During approximately what time period are children in Piaget’s “formal operational” stage of cognitive development?

Answer 15

11 years old to adulthood.

Question 16

During which of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development do we develop the ability to think abstractly?

Answer 16

During the formal operational stage.

Question 17

True or False: Abstract thinking becomes possible during Piaget’s “concrete operational” stage of cognitive development.

Answer 17

False. We only learn this in the formal operational stage.

Question 18

Children in Piaget’s _________ stage of cognitive development understand that certain processes can be reversed or undone.

Answer 18

Concrete operational stage. Prior to this they treat addition and subtraction as being two unrelated processes.

Question 19

Children in Piaget’s _________ stage of cognitive development understand that others see things differently than they do and that they may be incorrect.

Answer 19

Concrete operational stage.

Question 20

Children in Piaget’s _________ stage of cognitive development do not understand that rearranging a set of objects does not change the amount of objects present.

Answer 20

Preoperational stage.

Question 21

Children in Piaget’s _________ stage of cognitive development understand that something can transform/change into something else. Objects (and people) do not stay the same forever.

Answer 21

Formal operational stage.

Question 22

Children in Piaget’s _________ stage of cognitive development understand that objects and people can belong to several categories simultaneously.

Answer 22

Concrete operational stage.

Question 23

True or False: A child in Piaget’s preoperational stage of cognitive development would have no problem understanding that his parent can also be a doctor (multiple categories).

Answer 23

False. This kid is stupid.

Question 24

Children in Piaget’s _________ stage of cognitive development could understand that if all people are animals, and all animals are made of cells, then all people are made of cells. (deductive reasoning)

Answer 24

Concrete operational stage. Prior to this, kids are dumb.

Question 25

Children in Piaget’s _________ stage of cognitive development are capable of understanding the relationship between fractions and decimals.

Answer 25

Formal operational stage.

Question 26

Children in Piaget’s _________ stage of cognitive development understand that multiple answers may exist for a given hypothesis, and that they must all be considered.

Answer 26

Formal operational stage.

Question 27

What are some criticisms of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development?

Answer 27

Any of:
- overestimates adolescents and adults
- underestimates children
- development may be more like a ramp or scale and less like discontinuous steps
- not applicable to all cultures

Question 28

What were the 2 main views that Vygotsky had on cognitive development?

Answer 28

1. Psychological processes start as social processes.
2. Children’s development depends on the sign system with which they grow up.

Question 29

True or False: Vygotsky believed that cognitive development proceeded from other-regulated behaviour to self-regulated behaviour.

Answer 29

True. This is word for word from the notes.

Question 30

Vygotsky believed that ____ __________ occurs when children can internalize signs to be able to think and solve problems without the help of others.

Answer 30

Self-regulation.

Question 31

True or False: Vygotsky believed that development would be enhanced when children work cooperatively/collaboratively with others.

Answer 31

True. Does not differentiate between working with adults or children.

Question 32

What does the “zone of proximal development” define with regards to Vygotsky’s psychology concepts?

Answer 32

A “sweet spot” of intellectual growth. The difference between the child’s actual development level and what the child can do with adult guidance.

Question 33

What does the term “scaffolding” mean with regards to Vygotsky’s concepts about child development?

Answer 33

Having competent peers or adults provide children with support to increase their learning.

Question 34

What is another phrase used to describe “scaffolding” during child education?

Answer 34

“I do, we do, you do.”