Question 1

A kindergarten teacher instructs parent volunteers to take a Piagetian approach when interacting with his students during learning center time. He recommends the volunteers

Accepted Answer

Piagetian approach emphasizes on learning through exploration and hands-on experiences. Therefore, providing a setting where children can explore and learn by doing things themselves is the best choice. Asking children to imitate until perfection may hinder their creativity and problem-solving skills. Rewarding only correct answers may discourage children from trying and making mistakes, which is a vital part of the learning process. Using flashcards repeatedly may not offer the opportunity for children to fully understand and integrate the concepts into their existing knowledge.

Question 2

Which of the following teaching methods would a science teacher following Piaget's conceptual framework for education employ?

Accepted Answer

Piaget's conceptual framework for education emphasizes the importance of active learning, exploration, and discovery. Option C aligns with this by allowing students to design and complete their own science projects, promoting independent thinking and problem-solving skills.

Question 3

In assessing the ability to conserve, research findings indicate that this ability

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the ability to conserve can improve with training and practice. This suggests that the ability is not solely dependent on biological maturation. Additionally, cultural and environmental factors can influence the development of this ability, making option B and D incorrect.

Question 4

Piaget's theory of development centered on children's actions and interaction with the physical world, while Vygotsky's focused more on

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky's theory emphasized the importance of social interaction in cognitive development, particularly through the use of language and interaction with more knowledgeable others.

Question 5

Vygotsky believed that private speech is

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky believed that private speech, or talking to oneself, is an important tool of thought in early childhood years. He suggested that children use private speech to regulate their own thinking and behavior, and that it plays a key role in their cognitive development.

Question 6

Like Piaget, Vygotsky believed that children

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky, similar to Piaget, emphasized the active role of learners in constructing their own knowledge and understanding through interaction with their environment and social context. Unlike Piaget, Vygotsky did not focus on strict age-related stages but rather on the social and cultural influences on cognitive development.

Question 7

Mr. Kaird incorporates peer tutoring in his classroom. Over the course of several classes, the peers reduce the level of direct support they give each student. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This scenario demonstrates the gradual reduction of support or guidance provided by peers to each student, which is a key characteristic of scaffolding.

Question 8

Vygotsky differs from Piaget in how he stresses the importance of _____ for cognitive development.

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky believed that cognitive development in children was strongly influenced by their social and cultural interactions with other people. He believed that children learn and internalize knowledge through social interactions and collaboration with more advanced individuals, such as parents, teachers, or peers. This is in contrast to Piaget's view that cognitive development is solely driven by children's individual exploration and assimilation of information from their physical environment.

Question 9

Sophie feels that her parents can never understand the psychological sufferings she is experiencing. This could be an example of

Accepted Answer

The statement describes Sophie's belief that her parents are unable to understand her, which is a common characteristic of the personal fable. The other options, imagined invincibility, imaginary audience, and hypothetical-deductive reasoning, are not relevant to the situation described.

Question 10

Which of the following is a criticism of Piaget's cognitive development theory?

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory is criticized for underestimating the abilities of young children and overestimating those of older children. Research has shown that certain cognitive abilities, such as object permanence, emerge earlier than Piaget thought, while others, such as abstract reasoning, develop later than he believed.

Question 11

Changing the level of support in the zone of proximal development is labeled

Accepted Answer

Changing the level of support in the zone of proximal development is called scaffolding. This involves providing the necessary support and guidance to help learners achieve new levels of understanding and competence, while gradually reducing that support as learners become more confident and independent.

Question 12

Jamal is a 17-year-old high school student. Which of the following is a correct statement about his cognitive development?

Accepted Answer

At 17 years old, Jamal is likely in the formal operational stage according to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which typically begins around age 12 and continues into adulthood. This stage is characterized by the ability to think abstractly and reason logically.

Question 13

Breanne's parents present her with a simple puzzle toy. At first, her parents completely finish the puzzle in front of her so she can learn the concept. As she begins to move the pieces on her own, though, they simply help by sometimes pointing at the right slot for a puzzle piece. The parent's evolving level of help is an example of

Accepted Answer

The parent's evolving level of help, from completing the puzzle for Breanne to just pointing at the right slot, is an example of scaffolding. Scaffolding is the process of providing temporary support to help a child learn a new concept or skill. The parent gradually withdraws this support as the child becomes more competent, allowing them to eventually perform the task independently.

Question 14

Brent talks himself through his math calculation homework, particularly when he does hard questions. This can be an example of

Accepted Answer

Brent talking to himself is a form of private speech, which is a common behavior in children when they are learning new skills or problem-solving. It helps them regulate their thoughts and focus on the task at hand.

Question 15

According to Vygotsky, the range of tasks that are too difficult for the child to master alone but that can be learned with guidance and assistance from adults or more-skilled children is

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky referred to the range of tasks that are too difficult for a child to master alone, but can be learned with guidance and assistance as the zone of proximal development (ZPD). This concept emphasizes the importance of social interaction and support in cognitive development.

Question 16

Which of the following do Neo-Piagetians argue should have more emphasis in cognitive developmental theory?

Accepted Answer

Neo-Piagetians argue that cognitive developmental theory should place more emphasis on how children use attention, memory, and strategy to process information. They believe that these mental processes play a critical role in shaping cognitive development, and that they interact with environmental factors to produce cumulative changes in children's thinking. While social learning and critical periods are also important to cognitive development, they are not the primary focus of Neo-Piagetian theory. Evolutionary adaptations may also be relevant to understanding cognitive development, but they are not generally emphasized by Neo-Piagetians.

Question 17

Following the homecoming game, a group of senior high school students drank a lot of alcohol. After that, they still insisted that they could drive home themselves without any problem. This behavior is an example of

Accepted Answer

Danger invulnerability refers to adolescents' tendency to underestimate the risks that could harm them, such as thinking they can safely drive after drinking alcohol.

Question 18

Ms. Whitaker incorporates peer tutoring in her classroom. With whose theory of cognitive development does this method best fit?

Accepted Answer

Peer tutoring aligns with Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, which emphasizes the importance of social interaction and collaboration in learning. Vygotsky believed that learning occurs through social interactions with more knowledgeable others, and that peers can serve as effective teachers and co-learners for each other.

Question 19

Which of the following BEST characterizes cognitive development according to Jean Piaget?

Accepted Answer

Jean Piaget believed that cognitive development occurs through active exploration and problem-solving rather than simply observing and imitating others. He emphasized the importance of children constructing their own understanding of the world through hands-on experiences and interactions with their environment.

Question 20

When working with young children, adults often provide assistance, instruction, and other support. As children demonstrate they can do more for themselves, Vygotsky recommends that adults begin to withdraw these supports. This demonstrates the concept of

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky's concept of scaffolding refers to the idea that adults provide temporary support and guidance to children as they learn new skills or concepts. As children become more proficient and independent, the adults gradually withdraw this support. This process mirrors the concept of scaffolding in construction, in which temporary structures are put in place to support the development of a building until it can stand on its own.

Quiz 6: Cognitive Developmental Approaches