Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

Question 1

Define reversibility

Answer 1

The ability to follow a line of reasoning back to its original starting point

Question 2

Define ego-centrism

Answer 2

Seeing the world only from one’s point of view

Question 3

Define object permanence

Answer 3

Understanding that objects still exist even if they cannot be seen or touched

Question 4

Define conservation

Answer 4

The concept that an object’s weight, mass, volume or area remains the same even if the object changes in appearance

Question 5

Define animism

Answer 5

A belief that every object has some kind of consciousness

Question 6

Define transformation

Answer 6

Understanding the process whereby something changes from one state to another

Question 7

Define centration

Answer 7

The tendency to focus on one quality of an object at a time

Question 8

Define classification

Answer 8

The ability to organise information into categories based on common features

Question 9

Define accommodation

Answer 9

Changing an existing mental idea (schema) to fit new information

Question 10

Define assimilation

Answer 10

The process of taking in new information and fitting it into an existing mental idea (schema)

Question 11

What is the first stage of Piaget’s theory? What is the age range for this stage?

Answer 11

Sensorimotor stage

Birth to 2 years

Question 12

What is the second stage of Piaget’s theory? What is the age range for this stage?

Answer 12

Pre-operational stage

2-7 years

Question 13

What is the third stage of Piaget’s theory? What is the age range for this stage?

Answer 13

Concrete operational stage

7-12 years

Question 14

What is the fourth stage of Piaget’s theory? What is the age range for this stage?

Answer 14

Formal operational stage

12 years and over

Question 15

What did Piaget state is the key cognitive accomplishment of the sensorimotor stage?

Answer 15

Object permanence

Question 16

What are the two cognitive ‘milestones’ associated with the sensorimotor stage?

Answer 16

Object permanence and goal-directed behaviour

Question 17

There are five cognitive ‘milestones’ that are generally achieved in the pre-operational stage. What are they?

Answer 17

Ego-centrism
Animism
Transformation
Centration
Reversibility

Question 18

There are two main cognitive ‘milestones’ that are generally achieved in the concrete operational stage?

Answer 18

Conservation

Classification

Question 19

What are the two cognitive ‘milestones’ that are generally achieved during the formal operational stage?

Answer 19

Abstract thinking

Logical thinking

Question 20

Piaget suggested that adult thinking is simply an extensions of which stage?

Answer 20

Formal operational

Question 21

What is meant by the term ‘idealistic thinking’?

Answer 21

Adolescents often compare themselves and others to an ‘ideal standard’ and strive towards being like their ideal person. This is idealistic thinking