Piaget’s Study on Moral Development Flashcards
What was Piaget’s aim in his study?
To study how children understand the concept of conservation, particularly if they grasp that the amount of liquid remains the same when poured into different-shaped containers.
What age group did Piaget work with in his study?
Children generally between the ages of 5 and 7 years old.
What procedure did Piaget use in his study?
He showed children two glasses with the same amount of liquid, poured one into a differently shaped glass, and asked if the amounts were the same or if one had more.
What did younger children (under 7 years old) typically believe about the liquid amounts?
They believed that the taller glass had more liquid, despite having seen that the amounts were the same.
What was the understanding of older children (around 7 years and older) regarding liquid amounts?
They understood that the amount of liquid remained the same, regardless of the glass shapes.
What conclusion did Piaget draw about younger children and the principle of conservation?
Younger children (preoperational stage) are unable to understand the principle of conservation.
At what stage does the ability to understand conservation emerge according to Piaget?
During the concrete operational stage, which typically begins around age 7.
What is a key finding from Piaget’s study regarding conservation?
Conservation develops around the age of 7, when children enter the concrete operational stage.
What cognitive ability do preoperational children (ages 2-7) lack?
The ability to perform logical operations, such as understanding that quantity remains constant despite changes in appearance.
Criticisms of Piagets study
Underestimated children’s abilities: Some argue that Piaget underestimated children’s abilities and that children may have been able to understand conservation if the tasks were less abstract or more engaging.
Cultural Bias: Piaget’s research was based on Western children and may not apply universally to children from different cultural backgrounds.
Methodological issues: The use of only a small number of children and the limited tasks (focused on one aspect of cognitive development) may not fully represent how children develop their cognitive skills.
