Question 1

According to developmentalists, maturation refers to the:

Accepted Answer

Maturation refers to the developmental changes that are largely controlled by heredity, encompassing physical, cognitive, and emotional development as dictated by an individual's genetic code.

Question 2

Which one of the following clearly illustrates Piaget's concept of assimilation?

Accepted Answer

Assimilation in Piaget's theory refers to the process by which a person incorporates new information into existing cognitive schemas. In choice A, the child uses a crayon on a chalkboard, which shows they are applying their existing knowledge of how to draw (with crayons on paper) to a new but similar situation (chalkboard), without changing their underlying understanding of drawing. This is a clear example of assimilation.

Question 3

Which one of the following statements is not part of Piaget's basic assumptions?

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that children's cognitive development unfolds naturally through stages, and they do not simply reason like adults regardless of the environment. His theory emphasizes that children's thinking is qualitatively different from that of adults at various stages of development.

Question 4

From Piaget's perspective, children are:

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that children are naturally curious and actively engage with their environment to understand and make sense of the world around them. This perspective emphasizes the child's role as an active participant in their own cognitive development, rather than being passively shaped by external rewards or formal education settings.

Question 5

Which of the following is the best description of a sensitive period in development?

Accepted Answer

Sensitive periods in development refer to specific time frames during which the influence of environmental factors on the development of specific abilities or characteristics is stronger than at other times. This concept suggests that there is an optimal period for certain learning or developmental processes to occur.

Question 6

What branch of philosophy inspired Piaget's work with children?

Accepted Answer

Piaget's work with children was primarily inspired by epistemology, the branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge, including its nature, scope, and origins. He was interested in understanding how children develop their understanding of the world, which aligns with epistemological inquiries.

Question 7

Louis receives a new soccer ball and begins to dribble it in the same way he dribbles his basketball.His dribbling of the new ball reflects Piaget's concept of:

Accepted Answer

Louis is using his existing knowledge or schema about dribbling a basketball and applying it to the new soccer ball, which is an example of assimilation. This is when new information is incorporated into pre-existing cognitive structures.

Question 8

Which one of the following pairs of children best illustrates a difference in temperament?

Accepted Answer

Temperament refers to the innate traits that influence how one thinks, behaves, and reacts with the environment. Saidi being sociable and outgoing versus Krista being quiet and reserved directly illustrates a difference in temperament, as it shows their natural predispositions towards social interactions.

Question 9

Miranda interacts with her toys when they are in view, but seems to completely forget about them when they are not near.Which of Piaget's stages of cognitive development is Miranda demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

Miranda is demonstrating behavior characteristic of the sensorimotor stage of Piaget's cognitive development theory. This stage occurs from birth to about 2 years of age and is marked by the development of object permanence, which is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched. Miranda's behavior of forgetting about her toys when they are not in view suggests she has not yet fully developed object permanence, a key feature of the sensorimotor stage.

Question 10

Which one of the following statements best illustrates a universal in development?

Accepted Answer

Statement C best illustrates a universal in development because it highlights a common pattern in language development among young children across different languages, indicating a universal aspect of human development.

Question 11

Which one of the following best exemplifies Piaget's notion of disequilibrium?

Accepted Answer

Disequilibrium in Piaget's theory refers to a state of cognitive imbalance or confusion that occurs when new information conflicts with existing schemas or knowledge. Lilly's inability to understand the purpose of a garden hose due to her urban upbringing exemplifies this concept, as she encounters an object that does not fit into her existing understanding of her environment.

Question 12

The processes of assimilation and accommodation both involve:

Accepted Answer

Assimilation and accommodation are both part of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Assimilation involves integrating new information into existing schemas (prior knowledge), while accommodation involves altering existing schemas or creating new ones in response to new information. Both processes are about how individuals relate new information to their existing knowledge base, rather than being specifically about concrete operational thought, abstract thought processes, or oral communication skills.

Question 13

Which one of the following teachers is definitely keeping in mind Piaget's idea that assimilation and accommodation are both necessary for learning and cognitive development to occur?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Chang's approach of showing students how a new topic is similar to what they already know (assimilation) but also different in certain ways (accommodation) directly reflects Piaget's idea that both processes are necessary for cognitive development.

Question 14

Most developmental theorists agree that:

Accepted Answer

Developmental milestones tend to appear in a consistent sequence for most children, even though the exact age at which each child reaches these milestones can vary. This reflects the general consensus among developmental theorists that while individual rates of development can differ, the overall pattern or sequence of developmental milestones (such as crawling before walking) is relatively consistent across children.

Question 15

Five-year-old Sophie is playing with blocks.She stacks them one on top of another until her towers eventually tumble, and then she begins stacking them again.Which one of the following best reflects Piaget's view of how Sophie is probably learning in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that children learn by actively engaging with their environment and interpreting their experiences. At five years old, Sophie would be in the preoperational stage, where active exploration and thinking about actions and their consequences are key to learning.

Question 16

Which one of the following best illustrates Piaget's concept of accommodation?

Accepted Answer

Accommodation involves adjusting one's mental frameworks to incorporate new information or experiences, which is what Karl is doing by revising his understanding of clouds based on new information from his science studies.

Question 17

Piaget proposed that true thought emerges when children begin to develop:

Accepted Answer

Piaget proposed that true thought emerges when children begin to develop symbolic thinking, which occurs during the preoperational stage of cognitive development.

Question 18

In Piaget's theory, a scheme can best be described as a(n):

Accepted Answer

A scheme, according to Piaget, is an organized pattern of thought or behavior that a child uses to make sense of a situation or experience. It's essentially a mental structure that helps individuals understand and interact with the world around them.

Question 19

Piaget's view of cognitive development can best be described as:

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development posits that children progress through four discrete stages of cognitive development, each characterized by qualitatively different ways of thinking and understanding the world. These stages are the sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, and formal operational stage.

Question 20

Mr.Humphrey teaches a class of twenty 8-year-old third graders.His goal for the upcoming school year is to help at least 50% of his students reach formal operations.Judging from Piaget's theory, we would expect that Mr.Johnson's goal is:

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the stage of formal operations typically begins at age 11 or 12. Since Mr. Humphrey's students are only 8 years old, they are likely in the concrete operational stage, making it almost impossible for 50% of them to reach the formal operations stage within the school year.

Quiz 2: Cognitive and Linguistic Development