Lecture 2: PIAGET

Question 1

What is the main concept behind the theory?

Answer 1

• The theory is a constructionist theory

Question 2

What are schemas?

Answer 2

• mental representations
  change through:
• Assimilation: integration of new input into existing schema
• Accommodation: adjustment of existing info due to disequilibrium.

Question 3

What are the 4 stages of development?

Answer 3

1. Sensorimotor stage (0-2 years)
2. Pre-operational (2-7)
   - Pre- conceptual stage (2-4)
   - The intuitive thought (4-7)
3. The concrete operational stage (7-12)
4. The formal operational stage (12 + )

Question 4

Sensorimotor Stage

Answer 4

increasingly able to explore using their sensory motor system.
Begin to develop mental representations
Object permanence (things exist when hidden)
Self awareness

Question 5

The pre- operational stage

Answer 5

The pre conceptual stage
Egocentrism: Piaget and Inhelder the three mountain task (4 year olds cant do it, 6 year olds pick a view different from their own but not the correct one, 7/8 year olds correct)
Pretend play 
Reduction in animism 
The intuitive thought stage 
Develop symbolic thought
same object can be different sizes 
systematically order or group items
Conservation

Question 6

The concrete operational stage

Answer 6

metacognition 
conserve weight height 
reversibility
cause and effect
concrete thinking

Question 7

The formal operational stage

Answer 7

hypothetical reasoning

complex conclusions

Question 8

limitations

Answer 8

some children develop earlier
children might be taught
abstract thinking might come much later
tasks are too advanced.

Question 9

Specific limitation:

Object permanence could come earlier

Answer 9

Bower (1972) infants show surprise when items disappear

Question 10

Mental representations might develop earlier

Answer 10

Meltzoff and Moore (1994) infants can still bend their tongue after 24 hours.

Question 11

egocentrism - limitation

Answer 11

Borke (1975) when the 3 mountain task was reworded using sesame street characters 3-5 year olds pass.
Hughes (1975) found that 3 year olds can hide a naughty doll from the police.

Question 12

conservation limitation

Answer 12

McGarringle and Donaldson (1974) naughty teddy got muddled - 4 year olds answered
Light et al (1979) 70% 4 year olds demonstrated it if explained

Question 13

when does egocentricm develop ?

Answer 13

Pre- operational stage 
Piaget and Inhelder 3 mountain task 
4 yr olds - fail 
5 yr olds - learn 
7/8 yr olds pass

Question 14

Darner and Day (1977) Stages

Answer 14

The stages are not accurate, abstract thinking deveops much later than 12, sometimes never.