Piaget Flashcards
Explain what a schema is and be able to describe examples of how schemas are developed Describe Piaget’s stage theory of cognitive development including the key concepts and the milestones reached in each stage Evaluate Piaget’s theory considering both its influence and limitations
What was Piaget’s basic principle
A constructivist theory where he believed children are active learners who construct their own knowledge through interacting with their environment. He thought children learn by themselves
4 stages of cognitive development
Sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational and formal operation
What is assimilation
Intergration of new information into existing schemas leading to more consolidated knowledge
What is accommodation
The adjustment of schemas to new information, leading to growing and changing knowledge.
What is disequilibrium
When new knowledge leads children to realise their current understanding is inadequate
What ages are the sensorimotor stage
0-2
What happens in the sensorimotor stage
Object permanence
mental representations - they show deferred imitation (copying an action after its been performed)
self-awareness - self recognition
What ages are the pre-operational stage
2-7
What happens in the pre-conceptual sub stage
egocentrism - seeing the word from just their point of view
children become able to mentally represent ideas
reduction of animism
Study to measure egocentrism
3 mountains task - doll placed so its looking at the mountain from a different perspective to the child. Child asked what the doll can see. Child will describe what they can view and not the doll if displaying egocentrism
What happens in the intuitive stage
Symbolic thought - ability to represent people and objects using internal symbols (banana phone)
can systematically orders and classify but can’t pass all conservation tasks
Whats a conservation
The realisation that although appearance of items may change, the number or amount stays the same
What ages are the formal operational stage
12+
What happens in the formal operational stage
Children can reason hypothetically and deduct conclusions
What are the limitations of Piaget’s theory
- ) The ages aren’t accurate for each stage
- ) some of his tasks were complex potentially causing children to perform worse
- ) The idea children shouldn’t be taught something before they reach the stage has been disputed
- ) young children sometimes show object permanence
- ) Infants can imitate suggesting they can form mental representations
