Question 1

Which of the following is a valid challenge to Piaget's theory?
A) Cognitive abilities develop in discrete steps or stages rather than continuous, overlapping waves.
B) Young children do not understand as much as Piaget gave them credit for.
C) Preschoolers are not as egocentric as Piaget thought.
D) Cognitive development around the world is more consistent than Piaget realized.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory has been challenged on various fronts, including underestimating children's abilities. Research has shown that preschoolers can demonstrate less egocentrism than Piaget suggested, indicating they can understand perspectives other than their own earlier than he proposed.

Question 2

________ is a system of beliefs about the way one's own mind and the minds of others work, and of how individuals are affected by their beliefs and feelings.
A) Theory of cognition
B) Telegraphic speech
C) Object permanence
D) Theory of mind

Accepted Answer

The system of beliefs described in the question is known as the theory of mind. Choice A, theory of cognition, refers to the study of mental activities such as perception, attention, and memory. Choice B, telegraphic speech, refers to a stage of language development in which a child's speech is typically limited to short and simple phrases. Choice C, object permanence, refers to the understanding that objects exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched.

Question 3

Lawrence Kohlberg is noted for his theories of __________ development.
A) cognitive
B) social
C) moral
D) emotional

Accepted Answer

Lawrence Kohlberg is known for his theory of moral development, which proposes that individuals progress through six stages of moral reasoning as they age and gain life experience.

Question 4

In Piaget's theory, the process of absorbing new information into existing cognitive structures is called:
A) operations.
B) accommodation.
C) conservation.
D) assimilation.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory states that the process of absorbing new information into existing cognitive structures is called assimilation. This means that individuals take new information and fit it into their pre-existing schema, which is their understanding of the world based on their past experiences.

Question 5

Janis sees a bat flying over the lake and says, "Birdie"! Her mother says, "That flies like a bird, Janis, but that is a bat." Janis begins pointing saying, "Bat! Bat! Bat!" Piaget would say that this is an example of:
A) assimilation.
B) preoperational thought.
C) accommodation.
D) egocentric thinking.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of accommodation, as Janis had to modify her existing schema (birdie) to fit the new information (bat) provided by her mother.

Question 6

In Piaget's theory, the process of modifying existing cognitive structures in response to experience and new information is called:
A) operations.
B) accommodation.
C) conservation.
D) assimilation.

Accepted Answer

The process of modifying existing cognitive structures in response to experience and new information is called accommodation in Piaget's theory. This involves changing or adapting existing cognitive schemas or structures to fit new information.

Question 7

According to Jean Piaget, object permanence develops during the ________ stage.
A) concrete operations
B) sensorimotor
C) preoperational
D) formal operations

Accepted Answer

According to Jean Piaget, object permanence, the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not seen, heard, or touched, develops during the sensorimotor stage, which occurs from birth to approximately 2 years of age.

Question 8

________ refers to a child's first word combinations, which omit unnecessary words.
A) Telegraphic speech
B) Parentese
C) Universal grammar
D) Symbolic gesture

Accepted Answer

Telegraphic speech refers to the early two-word combinations infants use to communicate, often omitting articles, prepositions, and other unnecessary words.

Question 9

According to Piaget, the first stage of a child's cognitive development is the ________ stage.
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) concrete operations
D) formal operations

Accepted Answer

Piaget's stages of cognitive development are sensorimotor (birth to 2 years), preoperational (2 to 7 years), concrete operations (7 to 12 years), and formal operations (12 years and up). The sensorimotor stage is characterized by the child's use of their senses and motor actions to explore and learn about the world around them.

Question 10

According to Piaget, during their first year, infants develop ________, the understanding that an object continues to exist even when you cannot see it or touch it.
A) egocentric thinking
B) accommodation
C) object permanence
D) assimilation

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched. This development occurs during infants' first year of life. Egocentric thinking is a characteristic of the preoperational stage, assimilation and accommodation are processes of adaptation in response to new information.

Question 11

In the ________ stage, the infant learns through concrete actions: looking, touching, putting things in the mouth, sucking, and grasping.
A) preoperational
B) sensorimotor
C) formal operations
D) concrete operations

Accepted Answer

The sensorimotor stage, according to Piaget's stages of cognitive development, occurs from birth to around 2 years old. Infants at this stage learn through physical actions such as looking, touching, grasping, and sucking. In this stage, they develop object permanence, the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not seen.

Question 12

According to Jean Piaget, at what developmental stage would a child come to understand conservation and cause and effect?
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) concrete operations
D) formal operations

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory, children between the ages of 7 and 11 enter the concrete operations stage, during which they develop a logical understanding of conservation and cause and effect relationships. In contrast, preoperational children (ages 2-7) are not yet able to understand conservation, and formal operational children (ages 11 and up) are able to understand more abstract concepts beyond concrete experience.

Question 13

According to Jean Piaget, which of the following is true of preoperational children?
A) Preoperational children lack the cognitive abilities necessary for understanding abstract principles.
B) Preoperational children are ready to accept another person's point of view.
C) Preoperational children are able to grasp the concept of conservation.
D) Preoperational children do not yet demonstrate object permanence.

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, preoperational children (ages 2-7) lack the cognitive abilities necessary for understanding abstract principles, such as conservation and reversibility. They are also egocentric, meaning they struggle to see things from another person's point of view, and may not yet fully demonstrate object permanence.

Question 14

Tyrel is only 5 years old. He is angry at his brother and is about to hit him when he stops. According to Lawrence Kohlberg, it is most likely that Tyrel did not hit his brother because he:
A) respects the rules of the house.
B) does not want to get into trouble.
C) realizes that all human beings deserve to live without violence.
D) wants to conform to the rules of the house.

Accepted Answer

At 5 years old, Tyrel is likely operating at Kohlberg's pre-conventional level of moral reasoning, where actions are often driven by a desire to avoid punishment or gain reward, rather than a deeper understanding of rules or ethical principles.

Question 15

According to Jean Piaget, the last stage of a child's cognitive development is the ________ stage.
A) preoperational
B) sensorimotor
C) formal operations
D) concrete operations

Accepted Answer

According to Jean Piaget's theory, the last and final stage of cognitive development is the formal operations stage. This stage develops during adolescence and adulthood, where an individual is capable of using logical and abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, and deductive logic. The individual is also capable of planning for long-term goals, imagining multiple solutions to a problem, and considering different perspectives.

Question 16

Which of the following research findings regarding cognitive development is a challenge to Piaget's theory?
A) Children actively interpret their worlds, using their developing abilities to assimilate new information and figure things out.
B) Abstract reasoning is one of the last cognitive skills to develop fully.
C) New reasoning abilities depend on the emergence of previous abilities.
D) Cognitive abilities develop in overlapping waves rather than in discrete steps.

Accepted Answer

This finding challenges Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which proposed that cognitive abilities develop in discrete stages with distinct characteristics. The idea of cognitive development as overlapping waves suggests that it is more fluid and continuous than Piaget's theory proposed.

Question 17

When asked about whether the death penalty is morally defensible, Mandi argues that it is never acceptable to take a life. According to Lawrence Kohlberg, Mandi is at the phase of moral development where moral judgments are based upon:
A) conformity and loyalty to others.
B) what is in her own interest.
C) universal human rights.
D) the rule of law.

Accepted Answer

According to Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development, Mandi's argument against the death penalty reflects a concern for universal human rights, which is characteristic of the post-conventional level of moral reasoning. This level emphasizes abstract reasoning and universal principles of justice, rather than conformity to social norms or personal interests. Therefore, Mandi's moral judgment is based on principles of fairness and equal treatment, rather than obedience to authority or self-interest.

Question 18

According to Piaget, children develop abstract reasoning at the ________ stage of cognitive development.
A) preoperational
B) sensorimotor
C) concrete operations
D) formal operations

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that abstract reasoning develops at the formal operations stage, which typically begins around age 12 and continues through adulthood. This stage is characterized by the ability to think logically about abstract concepts and hypothetical situations. The other stages listed (preoperational, sensorimotor, and concrete operations) precede the formal operations stage and do not involve the same level of abstract reasoning.

Question 19

Lev Vygotsky emphasized:
A) children's need for contact comfort on early attachment relationships.
B) the sociocultural influences on children's cognitive development.
C) the shared grammatical structure underlying all spoken languages.
D) the anxiety babies and toddlers feel when separated from a primary caregiver.

Accepted Answer

Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasized the importance of social interactions, cultural contexts, and language in children's cognitive development. He believed that children's learning is shaped by their cultural experiences and the social interactions they have with others, particularly more skilled individuals or peers. Vygotsky's theory also highlighted the role of language as a tool for thinking and communication, and he suggested that language development is closely linked to cognitive development.

Question 20

________ is the understanding that the physical properties of objects, such as the number of items in a cluster or the amount of liquid in a glass, can remain the same even when their form or appearance changes.
A) Assimilation
B) Conservation
C) Concrete operations
D) Object permanence

Accepted Answer

Conservation refers to the ability to understand that the physical properties of objects remain the same even when their appearance or form changes. This is an important cognitive milestone in child development, typically occurring during the concrete operational stage around the ages of 7-11.

Quiz 13: Development Over the Life Span

Which of the following is a valid challenge to Piaget's theory?

________ is a system of beliefs about the way one's own mind and the minds of others work, and of how individuals are affected by their beliefs and feelings.

Lawrence Kohlberg is noted for his theories of __________ development.

In Piaget's theory, the process of absorbing new information into existing cognitive structures is called:

Janis sees a bat flying over the lake and says, "Birdie"! Her mother says, "That flies like a bird, Janis, but that is a bat." Janis begins pointing saying, "Bat! Bat! Bat!" Piaget would say that this is an example of:

In Piaget's theory, the process of modifying existing cognitive structures in response to experience and new information is called:

According to Jean Piaget, object permanence develops during the ________ stage.

________ refers to a child's first word combinations, which omit unnecessary words.

According to Piaget, the first stage of a child's cognitive development is the ________ stage.

According to Piaget, during their first year, infants develop ________, the understanding that an object continues to exist even when you cannot see it or touch it.

In the ________ stage, the infant learns through concrete actions: looking, touching, putting things in the mouth, sucking, and grasping.

According to Jean Piaget, at what developmental stage would a child come to understand conservation and cause and effect?

According to Jean Piaget, which of the following is true of preoperational children?

Tyrel is only 5 years old. He is angry at his brother and is about to hit him when he stops. According to Lawrence Kohlberg, it is most likely that Tyrel did not hit his brother because he:

According to Jean Piaget, the last stage of a child's cognitive development is the ________ stage.

Which of the following research findings regarding cognitive development is a challenge to Piaget's theory?

When asked about whether the death penalty is morally defensible, Mandi argues that it is never acceptable to take a life. According to Lawrence Kohlberg, Mandi is at the phase of moral development where moral judgments are based upon:

According to Piaget, children develop abstract reasoning at the ________ stage of cognitive development.

Lev Vygotsky emphasized:

________ is the understanding that the physical properties of objects, such as the number of items in a cluster or the amount of liquid in a glass, can remain the same even when their form or appearance changes.