Piagets Model

Question 1

Research theory.

Answer 1

He came to the conclusion that children think differently to adults, he suggested that 4 year olds cannot use abstract logic because they are not mature enough.
He observed that infants use the egocentric thinking.
Believes that logical thinking happens at the age of seven.

Question 2

Piaget’s stages of cognitive development.
Sensorimotor:
(Birth-2 years)

Answer 2

Interact with the world using their eyes, ears, hands and mouth.
Unable to remember and think of past events until 18 months.

Question 3

Preoperational:

2-7years

Answer 3

Children are you symbols
Make-believe play develops language.
Cannot fully understand numbers, maths, and volume.

Question 4

Concrete operational:

7-11 years

Answer 4

Reasoning becomes logical.

Understand simple logical principles.

Question 5

Formal operational:

11-18 years

Answer 5

Abstract thinking.
Think of possible outcomes of a scientific problem.
Complicated ideas in their heads.

Question 6

Development of schemas.

Answer 6

A child develops concepts about the world around them (equilibrium). As they experience new situations there schema is upset and thy reach a stage of disequilibrium. As the new information is accommodated the original schema is modified so they can reach a stage of equilibrium.

Question 7

What is the test of conservation.

Answer 7

In the operational stage (7-11 years) children und understand the theory of conservation - that something’s appearance might change but the quantity stays the same. E.g. Quantity of water in different glasses.

Question 8

Egocentrism.

Answer 8

Infants assume everyone sees, feels and hears exactly the same as they do.
Speech is used to externalise their thinking rather than communicating with other children.

Question 9

Criticisms of Piaget.

Answer 9

Based his theory on observations of a small number of children.
Others believe stages are more fluid , saying he underestimated/ overestimated children’s cognitive abilities.
Some believe that with adult support children can develop higher level of thinking skills.
Others believe children take longer than 11 to develop a abstract thinking.
Some think cognitive development might be part of a maturation process, it could depend on a child’s environment and education.