piaget theory of cog development

Question 1

what is cognition

Answer 1

acquiring and processing knowledge

Question 2

what is cognitive development

Answer 2

age related changes in perceiving, learning, thinking, attending and remembering

Question 3

jean piaget basis

Answer 3

genetic epistemology: experimental study of origins and development of knowledge

Question 4

what does piaget define intelligence as

Answer 4

basic life function that helps organisms adapt

Question 5

key terms for how children develop cognition

Answer 5

equilibration
constructivism
cognitive schemas

Question 6

what is equilibration

Answer 6

achieving balance between thought process and environment

Question 7

what is constructivism

Answer 7

children construct knowledge of reality, they are active agents

Question 8

what are cognitive schemas

Answer 8

mental frameworks to help us categorise and understand information, schemas evolve and become more complex as we develop

Question 9

cognitive schema stages

Answer 9

1. behavioural (sensorimotor)
   0-2yrs
   through direct overt actions e.g reaching, grabbing
2. symbolic
   3-7yrs
   children can think about objects and events without acting on them

3.operational
7+ yrs
children use cognitive operations, many correspond to mathematical symbols and show reversibility e.g if a>b then b<a

Question 10

how do children use this knowledge (schemas)

Answer 10

-organisation: combining existing schemas, promotes adaptation
-adaptation: adjusting to the environment, consists of assimilation
-assimilation: interpret new experience in terms of existing knowledge, if this fails then children use…
-accommodation: modify existing cognitive structures to account for new experiences

Question 11

piagets stages of cog development

Answer 11

1. sensorimotor: 0-2yrs
2. preoperational: 2-7yrs
3. concrete operational: 7-11yrs
4. operational: 12+yrs

Question 12

what are the milestones of the sensorimotor stage

Answer 12

object permanence and imitation

Question 13

what are the milestones of the preoperational stage

Answer 13

pretend play and egocentrism

Question 14

what are the milestones of the concrete operational stage

Answer 14

conservation and mathematical transformation

Question 15

what are the milestones of the operational stage

Answer 15

abstract thought and mature moral reasoning

Question 16

what is the sensorimotor stage

Answer 16

infants explore through senses and actions
sub stages
-reflex activity
-primary circular reactions
-secondary circular reactions
-coordination of secondary schemas
-tertiary circular reactions
-symbolic problem solving

Question 17

how is object permanence tested

Answer 17

the A not B error
-toy hidden under location A and child selects location A
-toy moved to location B but child choose location A

Question 18

what is object permanence

Answer 18

believing object still present when not seen

Question 19

weaknesses of A not B test

Answer 19

-infants born with more knowledge than piagat thought
-tests are too difficult, cant demonstrate knowledge bc of performance limitations

Question 20

what is the diff study for object permanence

Answer 20

Baillargeon and DeVos 1991
-when infant looks at unexpected event longer they are surprised
-tall carrot passing behind a small curtain

Question 21

what is the preoperational stage

Answer 21

-children mentally represent objects and events with images or words
-2 sub stages
1.preconceptual period (2-4yrs):
–representational insight = symbols stand for things (language, pictures, symbolic play),
–deficit in reasoning = animalism, reality distinction, egocentrism, lacking dual representation
2. intuitive period
–lack of reversibility (cannot mentally undo actions)
–centration: focus on one salient feature, see things as they appear to be, not thinking logically
–shows conservation failure e.g liquids moved into diff glasses but same volume

Question 22

critiques of preoperational stage

Answer 22

-children not always egocentric, depends on how task is presented Hughes 1975
-animalism depends on context, children only assume novel entities that move on their own are alive
-conservation tasks are solved after training (identity training = children learn that objects can undergo transformations)

Question 23

what is animalism

Answer 23

all that moves is alive
Heider simmel 1994

Question 24

what is the concrete operational stage

Answer 24

-children can decenter and mentally reverse so can solve conservation problems
-can use relational logic and perform mental seriation
-have transivity: if a>b and b>c then a>c
-horizontal decalage: some tasks requiring similar operations are easier than others

Question 25

what is the formal operations stage

Answer 25

-formal operations not solely based in concrete reality but are mental reactions on ideas e.g higher maths
-not all adults are proficient formal operators
-formal schooling is key in this stage
-older children and adults always perform best in familiar contexts

Question 26

evaluation of piagets theory

Answer 26

do the developmental stages exist?

piaget stated children are active independent agents of their own cog growth but this ignores social and cultural influences