Piaget's theory of cognitive development and the development of intelligence Flashcards
What is a schema?
Packet of information in our brain- a mental representation of a thing, place, occasion etc. Schemas help us to make sense of the world.
What is meant by adaptation?
Using assimilation and accommodation to make sense of the world.
What is meant by assimilation?
Incorporating new information into existing schemas.
What is meant by accommodation?
Adjusting a schema based on new experiences.
What is meant by equilibrium?
When a child’s schemas can explain all that they experience, a state of mental balance.
If a child incorporates new experiences into an existing schema, what is this called?
Assimilation.
If a schema no longer works and has to be adjusted in order to deal with a new experience, what is this called?
Accommodation
What are the strengths of Piaget’s theory?
- Piaget’s theory has practical applications. When children are allowed to discover things at their own pace, they are able to build knowledge using schemas and can work according to their stage of development.
- Piaget’s work has generated a great deal of research, including experiments, to show the existence of the stages and how children build knowledge through creating schemas
What are the weaknesses of Piaget’s theory?
- He did not look at the influence of social interactions or the cultural setting, which can affect the development of patterns of thought.
- Piaget’s data came from his interviews and observations with children. fThis may be subjective leading to some bias in his findings.
What research results support Piaget’s theory?
The three mountains task study.
Why might some of Piaget’s findings be said to be biased?
That his findings could be subjective.
What is meant by discovery learning?
Children must be able to engage freely with their environment rather than being told facts. The idea is that freely engaging with the environment will enable them to learn for themselves.
Why is whole class teaching not advisable, according to Slavin?
It comes from Piaget’s stage.
What is subjective?
Based on personal opinion or feelings.
What is Validity?
When the results of a study is represent the situation they are testing in real life.
