Piaget and Inhelder Study (development)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To determine the gae at which children “decenter” (becomes aware of different POVs)

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

• Sample: 4 - 8 year old children
• Children were individually seated in a room with a table in front of them depicting a mountain scene (three mountains, each with a distinctive landmark including a cross, snow and a house)
• A doll was seated opposite the child
• Child was asked to select a photo (from 10 options) that represented the scene from the doll’s point of view
• Child switched positions with doll and had to choose a photo again

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• 4 to 5 year olds almost always chose the photo from their own POV
• 6 year olds often chose the photo from their own POV and sometimes chose the photo from the doll’s POV
• 7-8 year olds consistently chose the correct photo (from the doll’s POV)
• Supports theory that young children are still egocentric and they don’t decenter until the concrete operations stage

Question 4

Strengths

Answer 4

• Other egocentrism studies find that with a simpler task, 4 year olds do succeed in taking a different POV (Borke, 1975; Hughes, 1975)

Question 5

Limitations

Answer 5

• Internal validity
  - cognitively, might have been a challenging task (participants might have understood the instructions)

Question 6

Ethical considerations

Answer 6

• Informed consent (parental consent)
• Protection from harm
  
  • Not criticized for mistakes

Question 7

Research Method

Answer 7

• Quasi-experiment
• Lab experiment