Week 3

Question 1

What is Piaget’s theory of children’s cognitive development?

Answer 1

Cognitive development depends on the child interacting with the environment to create knowledge

Question 2

What is the first stage according to Piaget’s theory? What are its characteristics?

Answer 2

Sensorimotor stage (0-2 years)
* No mental representations
* Knowledge arises from immediate perceptions and actions
* Does not understand object permanence
* A-not-B error (keeps searching same place even when they saw the switch)

Question 3

What is the second stage according to Piaget’s theory? What are its characteristics?

Answer 3

Preoperational stage
* Mental representations emerge
* Symbolic thought possible
* Tend to focus on one salient aspect of object or event

Question 4

What is the third stage according to Piaget’s theory? What are its characteristics?

Answer 4

Concrete operations stage (7-12 years)
* Can focus on more than one aspect of an object or event
* Can take multiple perspectives
* Can think logically about objects but less well about abstract or hypothetical ideas

Question 5

What is the fourth (last) stage according to Piaget’s theory? What are its characteristics?

Answer 5

Formal operations stage (12+ years)
* More systematic thinking
* Capable of abstract thinking
* Can speculate about hypothetical situations

Question 6

What is Baillargeon’s research method?

Answer 6

Violation of expectations test of object permanence; measures looking time between possible vs. impossible scenarios

Question 7

What were Baillargeon’s conclusions?

Answer 7

• Infants have an initial concept of how objects in the world works (does not start from zero as Piaget implies)
• They then learn to pay attention to different variables to update their expectations

Question 8

Describe the Information Processing Theory

Answer 8

• The brain is described via a computer metaphor with hardware (eg. working memory) and software (eg. cognitive strategies)
• Processes include encoding, storing, and retreiving information

Question 9

Describe working memory

Answer 9

A memory system that involves actively attending to, maintaining, and processing information

Question 10

Describe the Socio-cultural Theory

Answer 10

Learning happens through direct social interactions between child and other people

Question 11

Describe an example of the Socio-cultural Theory in child behavior

Answer 11

Kids imitate model’s actions when there is no clear explanation of their actions (eg. using head to turn on light)

Question 12

What is the “Power of the Point?”

Answer 12

Pointing:
* Directs child’s attention
* Establishes shared focus between child, caregiver, and object (triadic engagement)
* Encourages joint attention
* Facilitates learning