Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development (1936)

Question 1

Stages of Cognitive Development (1936)

Answer 1

1) Sensori-Motor Stage (0-2)
- Key feature: Object permanence
- The child understands world through senses and actions.
- Ball and blanket study.

2) Pre-Operational Stage (2-7)
- Key feature: Egocentrism
- Child understands world through language and mental images.
- Three mountain study.

3) Concrete-Operational Stage (7-11)
- Key feature: Conservation
- Child understands the world through logical thinking and categories.
- Conservation of number.

4) Formal-Operational (11+)
- Key feature: manipulate ideas in head (e.g. abstract reasoning).
- Understands world through hypothetical thinking and scientific reasoning.
- Pendulum task.

Question 2

Criticisms

Answer 2

Donaldson (1984) - Lack of familiarity with the task.
- Hughes 1975 found that children aged between 3.5-5 could take on another person’s perspective due to the familiarity with the task. (Policeman task)

Siegal (1991) - Competency of language rather than poor cognitive abilities.

• Adults breaking conversational rules.
• Children don’t know how to verbalise answers.

Question 3

Strengths

Answer 3

• Correct in sequence of milestones.

- Removed notion of children being empty vessels.