L3: C.D. Piagets Theory

Question 1

Who was Jean Piaget?

Answer 1

Swiss psychologist who called himself a genetic epistemologist.

He believed knowledge is constructed, not innate.

Question 2

What methods did Piaget use for his research?

Answer 2

He observed his children and used semi-clinical interviews.

He focused on why children make errors, not just correct answers.

Question 3

What is the main assumption of Piaget’s theory?

Answer 3

Constructivist: Children build knowledge through interaction.

Development occurs in stages.

Question 4

What does Piaget’s theory say about development?

Answer 4

Development occurs in stages, with thinking changing qualitatively at each stage.

Question 5

What is the universal sequence in Piaget’s theory?

Answer 5

All children pass through stages in some order.

Question 6

What does Piaget’s theory say about the irreversibility of stages?

Answer 6

Stages are irreversible; one cannot skip or reverse stages.

Question 7

What drives cognitive development according to Piaget?

Answer 7

Cognitive development is driven by maturation and experience.

Question 8

What are the stages of cognitive development according to Piaget?

Answer 8

1. Sensorimotor (0-2 years): Experiences via senses, object permanence, intentionality develops.
2. Preoperational (2-6 years): Egocentrism, symbolic thought, lacks conservation.
3. Concrete operational (7-11 years): Logical thinking about concrete events, conservation achieved.
4. Formal operational (12+ years): Abstract and hypothetical reasoning.

Question 10

What are schemas?

Answer 10

Mental frameworks for categorization (e.g., animals).

Question 11

What is assimilation?

Answer 11

Fitting new information into existing schemas.

Question 12

What is accommodation?

Answer 12

Modifying a schema to fit new information.

Question 13

What is equilibration?

Answer 13

The balance between assimilation and accommodation.

Question 14

What triggers learning and schema adjustment?

Answer 14

Disequilibrium.

Question 15

What characterizes the sensorimotor stage?

Answer 15

Key developments through physical actions and senses.

Question 16

What is object permanence?

Answer 16

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when not seen.

Question 17

What is the shift in behavior during the sensorimotor stage?

Answer 17

From reflexive to intentional behavior.

Question 18

Does Piaget believe innate knowledge exists?

Answer 18

No, infants must learn through interaction.

Question 19

What does modern evidence suggest about innate knowledge?

Answer 19

Some perceptual knowledge is present at birth.

Question 20

What is size constancy?

Answer 20

The perception that an object’s size remains the same despite distance.

Question 21

What is subject unity perception?

Answer 21

The ability to perceive an object as a whole.

Question 22

What is cross-modal perception?

Answer 22

The ability to integrate information from different senses.

Question 23

What is egocentrism in infants?

Answer 23

The inability to distinguish self from the external world.

Question 24

How do infants understand actions?

Answer 24

Action = Object (e.g., shaking a mobile = understanding the mobile).

Question 25

What does Rovee-Collier's research suggest?

Answer 25

Infants as young as 2 months can remember their actions.

Question 27

What did Piaget suggest about infants' ability to think about absent events before 18 months?

Answer 27

Infants cannot think about absent events or objects. ## Footnote This indicates a limitation in cognitive development during the early sensorimotor stage.

Question 28

What is object permanence and at what age do infants typically develop it?

Answer 28

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. Infants younger than 8 months do not search for hidden objects. ## Footnote This is a key milestone in cognitive development.

Question 29

What is delayed imitation in infants?

Answer 29

Delayed imitation is when infants remember and copy actions later. ## Footnote This shows the development of memory and learning in infants.

Question 30

At what age do infants begin to mentally plan actions?

Answer 30

By 18 months, infants can mentally plan actions. ## Footnote An example is shrinking a chain to fit it in a box.

Question 31

What are the milestones of the sensorimotor stage?

Answer 31

Early: Reflexes, basic schemas; Mid: Repeated actions, beginning of intentionality; Late: Object permanence, symbolic play, memory, and reasoning. ## Footnote These milestones indicate the progression of cognitive development.

Question 32

What marks the transition from the sensorimotor stage to the preoperational stage?

Answer 32

The transition is marked by emerging language and increased imagination. ## Footnote This signifies a shift in cognitive abilities.