piaget's (1952) study into the conservation of number

Question 1

sample

Answer 1

Swiss children in the pre-
operational & concrete
operational stages.

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

To see the stage of development when children are able to conserve.

Question 2

research method

Answer 2

Natural experiment and cross-sectional study

Question 3

procedure

Answer 3

a) Each child was presented with two
identical, parallel lines of counter.
b) Was asked “Is there the same number of
counters in each row?”
c) Then watched as one of the lines was
spread out (no more counters were added).
d) Was then asked for 2nd time “Is there
the same number of counters in each row?”

Question 4

findings

Answer 4

Children at the beginning of the pre-operational
stage (3-4 years)= more in stretched row.
Children at the end of the pre-operational stage
(5-6 years)= both the same, couldn’t say why.
Children in the concrete operational stage (7+)
= both rows the same & could explain why.

Question 5

conclusion

Answer 5

Children in the concrete operational
stage were able to conserve.

Question 6

limitations

Answer 6

Sample too small & culturally biased
(Swiss, own children)- cannot be
generalised.
Design is invalid- asked same qu.
twice so some answered based
thinking it was wrong the 1st time.