Question 1

According to Piaget,what stage of development occurs from age 2 through to age 7?

Accepted Answer

Piaget's preoperational stage of development occurs from age 2 through to age 7. During this stage, children develop symbolic thinking and use language to represent objects and ideas. They also start to understand concepts like numbers, time, and distance, but their thinking is still very concrete and they have difficulty with abstract or hypothetical ideas.

Question 2

DeLoache found that the age at which children were able to successfully perform her scale-model task was dependent on which of the following experimental conditions?

Accepted Answer

The answer of DeLoache found that the age at which...

Question 3

Which of the following abilities defines the term dual representation?

Accepted Answer

Dual representation refers to the ability to represent an object both as itself and as a symbol or representation of something else. This ability is often seen in young children when they use an object to represent another object in pretend play (e.g. using a stick as a sword).

Question 4

Suppose you hide a toy behind one of two screens.Then,when you take the screen away,the toy is missing.According to recent research,what would be the most likely response of an 8-month-old infant to this situation?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that 8-month-old infants typically demonstrate surprise when a toy that was visible disappears behind a screen. They may stare longer or show other signs of interest in the unexpected event. Therefore, it is most likely that the infant will show surprise in this situation.

Question 5

According to Piaget,what is the hallmark of thinking during the preoperational stage of development?

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that the hallmark of thinking during the preoperational stage (ages 2-7) was the emergence of symbolic functions, such as the ability to use words and mental symbols to represent objects and events. This stage is also characterized by egocentrism and animism, where children often attribute human qualities and intentions to inanimate objects. Object permanence (A) is actually developed during the sensorimotor stage (birth-2 years) and refinement of logical analysis (B) occurs during the concrete operational stage (7-12 years). Expansion of knowledge base (D) is not specifically tied to a particular stage of development, as it is a continuous process throughout the lifespan.

Question 6

Which of the following would be a slogan of neonativism?

Accepted Answer

The slogan of neonativism is that infants have innate or inborn abilities, knowledge, and skills that allow them to learn quickly and easily from their environment. Choice B, "The newborn arrives with much knowledge," best reflects this perspective. Choices A, C, and D reflect different perspectives on development, but do not align with neonativism.

Question 7

Which statement best summarizes Baillargeon's conclusion as to why young infants stare longer at "impossible" scenes than they do at "possible" scenes?

Accepted Answer

Baillargeon's conclusion is that young infants stare longer at "impossible" scenes because they have a rudimentary understanding of object concept. They expect objects to behave in certain ways based on their past experiences and when those expectations are violated, they need more time to process the new information.

Question 8

To which process does Adele Diamond attribute the A-not-B error?

Accepted Answer

Adele Diamond attributes the A-not-B error to a lack of ability to inhibit previously made motor responses.

Question 9

Amanda is currently in the sensorimotor stage of development.According to Piaget,when will her parents know that her object concept is fully mature?

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, object concept is fully mature when the child reaches the A-not-B error stage, which involves searching for covertly displaced objects. The A-not-B error occurs when the child repeatedly finds an object hidden at location A, but, when the object is hidden at location B (which the child can see), the child still searches for it at location A. This error signifies that the child has not fully developed their understanding of object permanence and that objects can exist even when out of sight. Therefore, when Amanda is able to search for objects that have been covertly displaced (e.g. hidden at location B) without making the A-not-B error, her object concept can be considered fully mature.

Question 10

According to Piaget,between what ages does the preoperational stage of development occur?

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, the preoperational stage of development occurs between the ages of 2 to 7 years old. This is when children begin to use symbols and language to represent objects and ideas, develop a sense of self and others, and engage in pretend play.

Question 11

Language is an obvious form of symbolism that flourishes during the preoperational period.What is the other?

Accepted Answer

Pretend play involves using objects and actions symbolically to represent something else, such as using a block as a phone. This is another form of symbolism that flourishes during the preoperational period. Quaternary circular reactions, conservation, and propositional thinking are all cognitive processes that also develop during this stage, but they do not involve the use of symbolism.

Question 12

Bjorklund has conjectured that the average 3-year-old has more in common with a 21-year-old adult than with a 12-month-old infant.What aspect of Piagetian thought led him to make this statement?

Accepted Answer

Bjorklund's statement is based on the concept of symbolic thought, which is a hallmark of Piaget's cognitive development theory. According to Piaget, children develop the ability to use symbols to represent objects and ideas around the age of 2, and this ability marks a significant shift in their cognitive development. By age 3, children have further developed their symbolic thought, allowing them to engage in more complex forms of play and communication. By contrast, infants lack the ability to use symbols at all, meaning that they are fundamentally different from 3-year-olds and older individuals who possess this cognitive skill.

Question 13

Eight-month-old infants tend to search for an object in its original hiding place even after watching the object being moved to a new location.Which statement best summarizes the current research data as to why this occurs?

Accepted Answer

This behavior is due to the infant's inability to inhibit previously practiced motor responses. At this age, infants have developed object permanence (understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen), but they struggle with inhibitory control, which is the ability to control their impulses and actions. This leads them to reach for the location where they first found the object, despite having seen it moved.

Question 14

Which statement best summarizes the position of "theory" theorists regarding infant cognition?

Accepted Answer

"Theory" theorists combine elements of nativism and constructivism, acknowledging the role of both innate knowledge and experiential learning in infant cognition.

Question 15

What do researchers mean when they describe play as a "serious business"?

Accepted Answer

Researchers describe play as a "serious business" because it has been shown to have significant positive effects on a child's social and intellectual development. Play helps children learn important skills such as problem-solving, cooperation, and creativity. It also allows children to explore and understand their world in a safe and enjoyable way. Therefore, play should be encouraged and supported by adults.

Question 16

Tamera is playing with her father and he dangles his car keys in front of her.Her dad then hides the keys behind his back.Tamera reaches out and grabs at his hand.How would a Piagetian theorist account for Tamara's behaviour?

Accepted Answer

A Piagetian theorist would explain Tamera's behavior as demonstrating her understanding of object permanence, the idea that objects continue to exist even when they are not perceptually present. Tamera reaches out to grab her father's hand, anticipating that the keys are still there even though she cannot see them. This reflects her ability to mentally represent the keys and their location, which is a hallmark of the object permanence stage of development.

Question 17

According to Piaget,at what age is the "A-not-B error" most commonly observed?

Accepted Answer

The "A-not-B error" is most commonly observed in infants between the ages of 8 to 12 months, according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Question 18

Which statement best characterizes thought during the preoperational period?

Accepted Answer

During the preoperational period, children lack the ability to perform certain basic mental operations, such as conservation and reversibility. They also struggle with egocentrism and have a tendency to focus on only one aspect of a situation.

Question 19

In DeLoache's original studies on the use of scale models,why did toddlers perform poorly?

Accepted Answer

Toddlers may not have fully developed the cognitive ability to understand that a scale model is a representation of the real world, leading them to perform poorly in the study.

Question 20

Which statement best summarizes the research findings regarding the behavioural outcome of children who engage in a great deal of pretend play during the preschool?

Accepted Answer

Research findings suggest that children who engage in a great deal of pretend play during the preschool years tend to be more curious and creative, and have better cognitive and language skills. There is no evidence that pretend play is associated with being more reclusive or less popular, less likely to form healthy friendships, or less able to distinguish between appearance and reality.

Quiz 8: Cognitive Development