Evaluating Piagets Model

Question 1

Evaluate Piagets model of cognitive development (10 marks) answer part 1-

Answer 1

Piaget proposed that children undergo 4 stages of cognitive development, in which they learn to think abstractly. In the first stage, between 0-2years, the child is going through the sensorimotor stage. In which they experience life through their senses: smell, taste, sight, touch, sounds.

During the second stage: pre-operational, the child is egocentric, meaning they deal with a situation with only what they believe and no reasoning. Piaget carried out the three mountains experiment, which showed children can only imagine what’s on their side of the mountain, not what could also be on the other side.

Question 2

Evaluate Piagets model of cognitive development (10 marks) part 2-

Answer 2

The third stage is the concrete operational stage (7-11 years). This is where the conservation experiment took place. It refers to the child’s understanding that the amount of water stays the same even when the containers shape has changed.

Finally is the formal operational stage ( 11-18 years). The child can imagine a situation without it having to be visually in front of them. They can also demonstrate abstract thinking.

Question 3

Evaluate Piagets theory of cognitive development (10 marks) part 3-

Answer 3

Piagets theory is important, because it demonstrates practical tests such as the conservation experiment and the mountain task, which can e used to test a child’s cognitive development. It also provides a guidance to compare the cognitive development of other children, which can then identify problems/ delays in their development and help them to overcome them.

Question 4

Evaluate Piagets model of cognitive development (10 marks) part 4-

Answer 4

However, Piaget based his research and theory on a limited population in a specific geographical area. This is not a sufficient amount of research to conclude his theory’s as there is a large variety of people in the world who may develop differently.

He concentrated on the universal stages of cognitive development and biological maturation, he failed to consider the effect that the social setting (Bandura) and culture may have on cognitive development.

Vygotsky and Bruner would rather not talk about stages at all, they preferred to see development as continuous.

Overall, Piagets model of cognitive development is a good tool for measuring development but lacks validity.