Cognition and Development

Question 1

Does Piaget support nature and nurture

Answer 1

According to Piaget children learn through trial and error in each of these stages, however, there is a biological maturation to when they progress from each stage. Therefore Piaget is both supportive of nature and nurture developing intellect

Question 2

Name Piaget’s stages of intellectual development and ages

Answer 2

Stage 1- Sensorimotor stage (birth- 2 yrs)
Stage 2- pre-operational stage (2- 7yrs)
Stage 3- Concrete operational stage (7-12)
Stage 4- Formal operational stage (12+ )

Question 3

Explanation of the sensorimotor stage

Answer 3

Thinking based on sensations and movements, not words
Infants have limited understanding so will gain information from simple reflex activities (e.g. sucking) and gradually develop their schema to explore different objects.

Question 4

Explanation of pre- operational stage

Answer 4

Children use symbolism- use of objects/ sounds/ actions to represent something else (how their learning develops)

Question 5

Explanation of the concrete operational stage

Answer 5

Children develop logical thinking towards physical objects/ events
Can perform mental operations, don’t rely only on appearance.
Better at conservation, class inclusion and are less egocentric.
However, have rigid thinking

Question 6

Sensorimotor stage key studies

Answer 6

Key study 1 : Hidden under blanket
Method: Piaget hid toy under blanket while child was watching
He observed whether the child continued to search for the hidden toy. If child searched for it, it was evidence they had object permanence.
Results: Infants younger than 8 months immediately switched attention from object
Only began searching around 8 months

Kay study 2: A not B
Method: Piaget hid toy under cover A with 9 month old infants. After, infants successfully retrieved the toy several times Piaget then hid toy under cover B
Results: Infants continued to search under cover A even after seeing toy hidden under cover B, suggesting 9 month olds don’t fully understand object permanence . By 2yrs children can complete the A not B task correctly

Question 7

Piaget’s key studies for conservation

Answer 7

Key Study 1: By Volume
Method: Piaget showed two equal quantities (liquid) then changed appearance of one (poured into taller glass) and asked children whether the amounts were the same or different
Results: Before 7 yrs, error say there’s different amount based on appearance
After 7 years, children able to answer conservation tsk question correct (same amount)

Key study 2: By quantity
Same but by creating gaps in counters

Question 8

Piaget key study for egocentrism

Answer 8

Egocentrism (inability to see from others viewpoint)
Method: Piaget asked children to choose a picture showing what a doll could see from another position around a model of three mountains, testing their ability to understand another’s viewpoint
Results: Before 7 years, describe mountains from own perspective only
After 7 yrs, describe mountains from others perspective so can decenter

Question 9

Piaget’s key study for class inclusion

Answer 9

(ability to understand general category includes smaller subcategories within it)
Method: children can categorise objects such as food/ animals, however cannot understand relationships between overall and smaller subcategories
Piaget showed children dog and cat toys and asked whether there were more dogs or animals

Results: Before 7yrs, could not classify objects into subcategories so made error by stating there were more dogs than animals
After 7yrs, can classify objects into subcategories so stated there were more animals than dogs