Piaget’s Theory of Intellectual Development

Question 1

How many Stages of Cognitive Development did Piaget state there were?

Answer 1

4

Question 2

In order, list the 4 Stages of Cognitive Development Piagetidentified

Answer 2

• Sensorimotor Stage
• Pre-operational Stage
• Concrete Operational Stage
• Formal Operational Stage

Question 3

During which Stage of Cognitive Development did Piaget say Object Permanence developed?

Answer 3

The Sensorimotor Stage

Question 4

By how many months old did Piaget state Object Permanence typically developed?

Answer 4

8 months

Question 5

What is Object Permanence?

Answer 5

The understanding that an object still exists even when it’s out of sight

Question 6

What is Conservation?

Answer 6

The understanding that quantity remains constant even when its appearance changes (e.g. by pouring liquid into a differently shaped cup)

Question 7

What is Egocentrism?

Answer 7

A child’s tendency to only be able to view the world from their own POV, both physically and figuratively

Question 8

What is Class Inclusion?

Answer 8

The idea that objects can be categorised, organised and classified

Question 9

What occurs during the Sensorimotor Stage?

Answer 9

The baby develops basic co-ordination and an understanding that other people are separate to themselves

Question 10

What is the approximate time frame of the Sensorimotor Stage?

Answer 10

0-2 years

Question 11

What is the approximate time frame of the Pre-Operational Stage?

Answer 11

2-7 years

Question 12

What is the approximate time frame of the Concrete Operational Stage?

Answer 12

7-11 years

Question 13

What is the approximate time frame of the Formal Operational Stage?

Answer 13

11+ years

Question 14

Which 3 reasoning errors characterise and are developed during the Pre-Operational Stage?

Answer 14

• Conservation
• Egocentrism
• Class Inclusion

Question 15

In the Concrete Operational Stage, what can most children do?

Answer 15

• Conserve
• Aren’t egocentric
• Have an understanding of class inclusion

Question 16

What do children struggle with during the Concrete Operational Stage which then develops in the Formal Operational Stage?

Answer 16

Formal reasoning and abstract ideas, such as justice

Question 17

What does Formal Reasoning mean?

Answer 17

That children can focus on the form of an argument rather than its content

Question 18

Describe Piaget’s Object Permanence Study

Answer 18

• He observed babies following objects as they were removed from sight
• Babies under 8 months immediately diverted their attention once the object was no longer visible, whilst babies over 8 months continued to look for it

Question 19

Describe Piaget’s two ways of investigating Conservation

Answer 19

• He placed two rows of the same amount of counters together and pushed one closer together so it appeared smaller
• He poured liquid between differently shaped vessels
• Pre-Operational children struggled to conserve and correctly reason that there was the same amount of counters/liquid

Question 20

Describe Piaget’s Egocentrism Study

Answer 20

• The 3 Mountains Task: children were shown a model of 3 mountains each with a different distinct feature (e.g. a volcano, a tree).
• A doll was placed a different angle from the child
• When asked to choose what the doll’s POV was from a selection of photos, Pre-Operational children tended to choose the photo that matched their own POV

Question 21

Describe Piaget’s Class Inclusion Study

Answer 21

• He asked children if there were more dogs or more animals in a photo that showed 5 dogs and 2 cats
• Pre-Operational children tended to answer more dogs, suggesting that had difficulty understanding that dogs could be classed as both dogs and animals simultaneously

Question 22

How can Formal Operations be tested?

Answer 22

Using syllogisms (e.g. “All yellow cats have two heads. I have a yellow cat called Franklin. How many heads does Franklin have?”)

Question 23

How can Piaget’s studies into Intellectual Development be criticised? (2 Points)

Answer 23

• He asked “Are they the same?” before and after in his conservation tasks, which is potentially a leading question as it implies a different answer is expected
• His tasks weren’t particularly interesting or child friendly

Question 24

What study contradicts Piaget’s belief that children can’t conserve before the age of 7?

Answer 24

McGarrigle & Donaldson’s Naughty Teddy” replication, in which a teddy knocked the counters closer together

Question 25

What percentage of children were able to conserve in the Naughty Teddy replication of Piaget’s Conservation Trials?

Answer 25

62%

Question 26

What study contradicts Piaget’s belief that children don’t develop object permanence until after 8 months old?

Answer 26

Bowler & Wishart, who found that infants aged 1-4 months continued to reach for an object for up to 90 seconds after the lights had been turned off