Question 1

The information-processing perspective was influenced by which of the following inventions?

Accepted Answer

The information-processing perspective in psychology, which compares the human mind to a computer, was influenced by the invention of the computer. This perspective focuses on how people process, store, and retrieve information, similar to computer operations.

Question 2

According to Piaget, infants

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that infants have schemes, which are mental representations or ideas about what they can do with objects. These schemes evolve through their interactions with the environment, starting from reflex-based actions and gradually becoming more complex as they learn and grow.

Question 3

Quinn is 3 years old. He is unable to focus on two aspects of a situation at once. According to Piaget, this indicates that Quinn lacks conservation skills. What developmental stage is Quinn in?

Accepted Answer

Quinn is in the Preoperational stage according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development. This stage typically occurs from ages 2 to 7 and is characterized by the inability to understand the concept of conservation and difficulty in seeing things from perspectives other than one's own.

Question 4

The information-processing perspective refers to people's strategies for problem solving as "mental programs," or

Accepted Answer

The information-processing perspective likens human thought processes to how computers process information, where "mental programs" are analogous to software in computers. This analogy suggests that just like software directs the operations of a computer, human thought processes (or mental programs) guide problem-solving and decision-making.

Question 5

Would Piaget agree with the statement, "Children vary in the order in which they go through cognitive developmental stages and if a child does not succeed in one stage, that child can still succeed in future stages"?

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that children go through the stages of cognitive development in a fixed order and that success in each stage is necessary for success in subsequent stages. He did not view cognitive development as varying in order or allowing for skipping of stages.

Question 6

Drew has a pet dog. His sister, Amelia, has a pet cat. So, Drew's scheme of "things that are pets" includes both dogs and cats. However, he visits a friend who has a pet parrot. This parrot does not fit into Drew's existing scheme. So, he accommodates this information. Now his "things that are pets" scheme includes birds as well. This restoring of cognitive balance is called

Accepted Answer

Equilibration is the process described, where Drew adjusts his cognitive framework (or schema) to include new information, thus restoring cognitive balance. This involves accommodating new information that doesn't fit existing schemas.

Question 7

Applying Piaget's theory to educational settings would involve

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory emphasizes that children's cognitive development progresses through stages, and effective education should match the child's cognitive developmental level. This approach involves tailoring instruction to be appropriate for the child's current stage of understanding.

Question 8

Baby Tyrese has an understanding of "things he can reach," such as a toy in his crib, and "things he can't reach," such as the mobile hanging above his crib. According to Piaget, what are these cognitive structures called?

Accepted Answer

Schemes, according to Piaget, are the cognitive structures that individuals use to organize and interpret their experiences. By understanding objects as "things he can reach" and "things he can't reach," Baby Tyrese is demonstrating his use of schemes to categorize his interactions with his environment.

Question 9

Cynthia's mother gives her an apple each day and tells her that apples are "fruit." However, one day, Cynthia's mother gives her an orange. She tells Cynthia this is also "fruit." What happens to Cynthia's scheme of "fruit?"

Accepted Answer

Cynthia accommodates the information so that her scheme of "fruit" now includes both apples and oranges, expanding her understanding of the category.

Question 10

According to information-processing theorists, knowing your birth date is information stored where?

Accepted Answer

Knowing your birth date is considered a piece of information stored in your long-term memory, as it is information that you retain over long periods, often for a lifetime.

Question 11

Assimilation is a(n)

Accepted Answer

Assimilation involves both biological and cognitive processes. It is a concept from developmental psychology, particularly in Piaget's theory, where individuals integrate new information into existing cognitive schemas, requiring both the brain's biological functions and cognitive processes.

Question 12

When it comes to learning new things, children will

Accepted Answer

Children first attempt to assimilate new information into their existing schemas. Assimilation is the process by which a person takes in new information and incorporates it into their existing ideas and concepts.

Question 13

Piaget believed that

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development posits that children progress through a series of four stages of cognitive development, which are invariant and universal. However, he acknowledged that while the sequence of stages is consistent, the age at which children reach each stage may vary.

Question 14

Piaget suggested that

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development posits that children progress through a series of four stages of cognitive development, each building on the last, indicating that development at one stage is indeed made possible by development in a preceding stage.

Question 15

Which of the following is not a stage of cognitive development, according to Piaget?

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development includes four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. "Hypothetical" is not one of the stages identified by Piaget.

Question 16

According to Piaget,

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development emphasizes that children actively construct their understanding of the world through their interactions with the environment. He proposed that cognitive development occurs through a series of stages, where children use processes of assimilation and accommodation to integrate new information and experiences into their existing cognitive structures. This theory does not focus on genetic intelligence, the simplicity of cognition, or the role of unconscious forces in personality development, but rather on the active role of children in learning about their world.

Question 17

Dr. Flynn studies children's thought processes. She asks research questions regarding the size of a child's short-term memory and how many programs the child can run simultaneously. Dr. Flynn's research is representative of which type of theoretical orientation?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Flynn's research focuses on the capacity of short-term memory and multitasking abilities in children, which aligns with the information processing perspective. This perspective views the human mind as similar to a computer, emphasizing how information is input, stored, and retrieved.

Question 18

Which of Piaget's stages is characterized by deductive logic, mental trial-and-error, and hypothesis testing?

Accepted Answer

The Formal operational stage, as described by Piaget, is characterized by the ability to think abstractly, use deductive logic, and perform mental trial-and-error hypothesis testing. This stage typically begins in adolescence and continues into adulthood.

Question 19

What happens when a child attempts to assimilate new information and cannot?

Accepted Answer

When a child encounters new information that doesn't fit with their existing schemas, they may adjust or change their schemas through accommodation to incorporate the new information, thus restoring cognitive equilibrium. This is a key concept in Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Question 20

Piaget called a natural biological tendency to interact with and respond to the environment

Accepted Answer

Adaptation is the term Piaget used to describe the natural biological tendency of individuals to interact with and respond to their environment, encompassing both assimilation and accommodation processes.

Quiz 1: History-Theories-And-Methods