week8b

Question 1

theory of Cognitive

Development proposed by the Swiss Psychologist Jean Piaget

Answer 1

His theory began with the idea that the child’s mind is not a miniature version
of an adult’s mind waiting to be filled with information.

Question 2

Equilibration

Answer 2

• Equilibration: assimilation & accommodation

is a concept developed by Piaget that describes the cognitive balancing of new information with old knowledge

Question 3

Assimilation:

Answer 3

Assimilation: process of matching external reality to an existing cognitive structure.

Question 4

Accommodation:

Answer 4

Accommodation:
When there’s an inconsistency between the learner’s cognitive
structure & the thing being learned the child will reorganize her
thoughts

Question 5

Piaget’s Four Stages of Cognitive Development

Answer 5

1. Sensorimotor (birth –2 years)
2. Preoperational (~2-7)
3. Concrete operational (~7-11)
4. Formal operations (~12-15)

Question 6

Sensorimotor Stage

Answer 6

• Birth to about 2 years, rapid change is seen throughout this period

• The child will:
Explore the world through senses & motor activity

• Early on, baby can’t tell difference between themselves & the
environment

• If they can’t see something then it doesn’t exist (object permanence)
• Begin to understand cause & effect
• Can later follow something with their eyes

Question 7

Preoperational Stage

Answer 7

-(2-7 years old)
• Better speech communication

• Can imagine the future & reflect on the past
• Develop basic numerical abilities
• Still pretty egocentric, but learning to be able to delay gratification
• Can’t understand conservation of matter
• Has difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality (ex: cartoon characters are real people)

-understanding that something doesn’t change
even though it looks different.

Question 8

Pre-Operational

Stage

Answer 8

Inability to understand

conservation of matter

Question 9

Concrete operational Stage

Answer 9

(7 to 11years)

• Abstract reasoning ability & ability to generalize from the concrete increases
• Understands conservation of matter

Question 10

Formal Operations

Answer 10

(12 to 15years)
• Be able to think about hypothetical situations
• Form & test hypotheses
• Organize information
• Reason scientifically

Question 11

According to Piaget,

Answer 11

• Development happens from one stage to another through interaction with
the environment.

• Changes from stage to stage may occur abruptly and kids will differ in how
long they are in each stage.

• Cognitive development can only happen after genetically controlled
biological growth occurs

Question 12

Piaget points out that , development leads to learning

Answer 12

• Drive for development is internal
• The child can only learn certain things when she is at the right
developmental stage.
• Environmental factors can influence but not direct development.
• Development will happen naturally through regular interaction with
social environment.