Stages Of Cognitive Development (Not Needed)

Question 1

Who theorised the stages of cognitive development?

Answer 1

Jean Piaget.

Question 2

What are the 4 stages of cognitive development and the supposed age range?

Answer 2

1. Sensorimotor (birth- 2 years)
2. Pre-operational (2-7 years)
3. Concrete operations (7-11 years)
4. Formal operations (11-18 years)

Question 3

What happens in the sensorimotor stage?

Answer 3

• infants learn about their environment
• develop early schemas about the world
• explore the world using all of their senses physically

Question 4

What is a schema?

Answer 4

A schema is a concept on something

Question 5

What happens in the pre-operational stage?

Answer 5

• they begin to control their environmen, using symbolic behaviour
• they can not think logically
• they use representational words/drawings/pretend play

Question 6

What happens in the concrete operational stage?

Answer 6

• reasoning becomes logical

- they understand the theory of conservation

Question 7

What happens in the formal operational stage?

Answer 7

• abstract thinking is developed

- they can now think through complicated ideas without concrete images

Question 8

What happens to our schemas during these 4 stages?

Answer 8

They accommodate new ideas as they come and go

Question 9

What is the post-formal operational stage?

Answer 9

This is for adults

They become more skilled in making flexible judgements

Question 10

What is the theory of conservation?

Answer 10

-somethings appearance may change but the quantity will stay the same

Question 11

Criticisms of Piaget?

Answer 11

• it’s based on observations of a small number of children
• the stages may be more fluid than suggested
• Brunner believed children can be helped to gain higher levels of thinking
• it takes longer for 11 year olds to become skilled abstract logical thinkers
• cognitive development may not be apart of maturation it depends on a child’s environment and their formal and informal education