Piaget Theory

Question 1

How was Piaget’s theory developed?

Answer 1

By observing his own children

Question 2

What did Piaget conclude about infants at birth

Answer 2

They are born without any knowledge

Question 3

What are the four main stages of cognitive development according to Piaget?

Answer 3

Sensorimotor (0-2 years), Preoperational (2-7 years), Concrete Operational (7-11 years), and Formal Operational (11+ years).

Question 4

What are the three key mechanisms of learning in Piaget’s theory?

Answer 4

Assimilation, Accommodation, and Equilibration.

Question 5

What is a major strength of Piaget’s theory?

Answer 5

Provides framework for understanding children’s different thinking at different ages.

Question 6

What is a significant criticism of Piaget’s stage theory?

Answer 6

Methodological Limitations.
E.g. Small mon-representative samples. (own children) lacks generalisabiliy.

Ignores social and cultural factors on cognitive development.

Underestimates children’s cognitive abilities

Question 7

What is object permanence and in which stage does it develop?

Answer 7

understanding that objects continue to exist when out of sight
- Develops in the Sensorimotor stage

Question 8

What is conservation and in which stage does it develop?

Answer 8

understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in appearance.
- Develops in the Concrete Operational stage.