Question 1

When Amber's father picked her up from her preschool class on Wednesday, he was surprised to find that she had learned eight new words that day.According to Vygotsky, what type of development does Amber's increased vocabulary represent?

Accepted Answer

Microgenetic development refers to the rapid changes and learning that occur over a relatively short period of time, such as Amber learning eight new words in a single day. This concept is used to study the process of development in a detailed and intensive way, capturing the moment-to-moment learning and development as it happens.

Question 2

According to Piaget, which period of development occurs from the age of 11 through adulthood?

Accepted Answer

The formal operational stage is the fourth and final stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, occurring from age 11 through adulthood. It is characterized by the ability to think abstractly, reason logically, and use deductive reasoning.

Question 3

Salvador and Glynnis are in the same preschool class.Salvador has three older brothers and an older sister, and Glynnis is an only child.Based on this information, how will each child perform when solving false-belief tasks?

Accepted Answer

Research in developmental psychology suggests that children with siblings, especially older ones, tend to perform better on false-belief tasks. This is because interactions with siblings often involve perspective-taking and understanding different mental states, which are crucial for solving false-belief tasks.

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

At around 8 months, infants develop object permanence, understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. If a toy disappears unexpectedly, an 8-month-old is likely to show surprise because this contradicts their understanding of object permanence.

Question 5

Which of the following abilities defines the term dual representation?

Accepted Answer

Dual representation refers to the cognitive ability to see an object as both an object in its own right and as a symbol for something else. This concept is often discussed in the context of children's development, particularly in how they understand models, maps, and pictures.

Question 6

According to Vygotsky, how does a preschooler's private speech change over time?

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky theorized that private speech, which is overt in young children, becomes internalized as they grow older, transforming into silent, covert speech or inner thought. This process reflects the child's developing self-regulation and cognitive abilities.

Question 7

Aiza is upset because she is convinced that her brother's cookie is bigger than hers.Her dad quickly breaks Aiza's cookie in two and tells her that she now has "more cookie." If Aiza is satisfied by this, how would Piaget explain her response?

Accepted Answer

Aiza's satisfaction suggests she does not yet understand conservation, which is the idea that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance. Piaget found that young children often struggle with this concept, thinking that quantity can change based on visual aspects.

Question 8

According to current research findings, many of Piaget's specific assertions regarding human development have received little empirical support.Given these considerations, how should a modern developmentalist regard Piaget's theory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to current research findings, many of...

Question 9

Do recent research findings regarding the acquisition of concrete-operational tasks support the developmental sequence proposed by Piaget?

Accepted Answer

Recent research findings suggest that the acquisition of concrete-operational tasks does not strictly follow the fixed, invariant sequence proposed by Piaget. Instead, these abilities can emerge in a more variable order, indicating that development may be more flexible than Piaget's theory suggests.

Question 10

Which statement best summarizes the findings of contemporary research regarding Piaget's view of the thought processes of preoperational children?

Accepted Answer

Contemporary research suggests that Piaget underestimated the cognitive abilities of preoperational children, finding that they possess more sophisticated thought processes than Piaget originally proposed.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

According to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the preoperational stage occurs from age 2 through to age 7. This stage is characterized by the development of language, memory, and imagination, but thinking is done in a nonlogical, nonreversible manner.

Question 12

In an observational study by Pratt and colleagues, greater parental support was offered when the children experienced failure at solving problems.How would Vygotsky account for the parent's response?

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky's theory includes the concept of scaffolding, where a more knowledgeable other (in this case, the parent) provides support to help the learner (the child) achieve a task they cannot complete independently. This support is gradually removed as the learner becomes more capable. The parental support in response to failure is an example of scaffolding, where the parent aids the child in overcoming obstacles and learning from the experience.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Pretend play is another form of symbolism that flourishes during the preoperational period, as children begin to use objects to represent something else in their play, showcasing their growing symbolic thinking abilities.

Question 14

According to Robbie Case, how should we view the process of accommodation?

Accepted Answer

Robbie Case views the process of accommodation as exploration and problem solving, emphasizing how individuals adjust their cognitive structures to incorporate new information.

Question 15

According to Vygotsky, the longitudinal observation of a child's development of toy sharing would be appropriate for which type of research?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Vygotsky, the longitudinal observation of...

Question 16

According to Piaget, what characterizes concrete-operational thought?

Accepted Answer

Concrete-operational thought, as described by Piaget, is characterized by the ability to perform mental operations, but these operations are tied to concrete objects and events in the real world. This stage marks a departure from preoperational thought, where thinking is more egocentric and less logical.

Question 17

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, suggesting that infants repeat the previous action of reaching to the first location (A) because they struggle to inhibit that motor response, even though they have seen the object moved to a new location (B).

Question 18

When a child recognizes that the physical properties of objects remain the same, despite changes in appearance, what has been mastered?

Accepted Answer

Conservation refers to the understanding that certain properties of objects, such as volume, mass, or number, remain the same despite changes in the forms or arrangements of those objects. This concept is a key developmental milestone in cognitive development, typically mastered during the concrete operational stage of Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

The preoperational stage of development, according to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, occurs from age 2 to age 7. This stage is characterized by the development of language, memory, and imagination, but thinking is still intuitive and egocentric.

Question 20

Which statement best characterizes Vygotsky's interpretation of private speech?

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky viewed private speech as an important tool for cognitive development, where children talk to themselves to guide their own thoughts and actions, especially when trying to solve problems or navigate new challenges. This self-directed speech helps in internalizing knowledge and developing higher mental functions.

Quiz 8: Cognitive Development: Piagets Theory, Cases Neo-Piagetian Theory, and Vygotskys Sociocultural Viewpoint