Piaget: Concrete operational thinking onward

Question 1

Definition of concrete operational thinking

Answer 1

1. can perform mental operations, but limited to concrete situations
2. last from approx. 6-11

Question 2

Major mastering an abilities of concrete operational thinking

Answer 2

1. Conservation of quantity
2. classification
3. Understanding the structures of classes

Question 3

Define conservation of quantity

Answer 3

the knowledge that quantitative properties remain invariant

Question 4

define classification

Answer 4

the action or process of grouping objects according to shared qualities

Question 5

what is seriation, and how does it relate to the concrete operational stage

Answer 5

It is defined as arranging objects in order according to size or height. Children in the concrete operational stage struggle with this.

Question 6

how does knowledge of object permanence develop across cultures?

Answer 6

the age at which children attain it is quite varied, but the sequence by which they attain it is the same

Question 7

Describe formal operational thinking

Answer 7

1. allow individuals to deal with hypotheticals and virtual possibilities
2. abstract thinking
3. hypothetical deductive reasoning

Question 8

Name 4 strengths of piaget’s theory

Answer 8

1. inspired new research, e.g the Theory of Mind
2. Development is sequential
3. the notion of stages
4. constructivism

Question 9

Name 4 weaknesses of Piagetian theory

Answer 9

1. overstatement regarding the consistency of children’s thinking
2. Underestimate competence by reliance on motor response
3. ignores social influences
4. some cognitive structures are vague and hard to operationalize

Question 10

Define hypothetical deductive reasoning

Answer 10

the ability to generate and test hypotheses and draw logical conclusions from the results of the tests