Question 1

Baby Bertha accidentally knocks a toy hung on her crib. Over the next several days, Bertha tries to repeat this effect, gradually forming a "hitting" scheme. In Piaget's theory, this is an example of a ________ circular reaction.
A) reflexive
B) primary
C) secondary
D) tertiary

Accepted Answer

In Piaget's theory, a secondary circular reaction involves an infant's repeated actions that bring about a desirable consequence, often involving objects in the environment, like a toy.

Question 2

During periods of rapid cognitive change,
A) organization predominates over adaptation.
B) accommodation predominates over assimilation.
C) assimilation and accommodation are balanced.
D) adaptation and organization are balanced.

Accepted Answer

During periods of rapid cognitive change, individuals must adapt and adjust their existing knowledge (accommodation) to fit new information, rather than relying solely on organizing information based on what they already know (assimilation). Thus, accommodation predominates over assimilation during these periods.

Question 3

Baby Jessica accidentally pushes her stuffed toy behind the couch, out of her line of vision. One possible reason Jessica begins to cry is that she has not yet developed
A) an A-not-B search error.
B) conservation.
C) object permanence.
D) animistic thinking.

Accepted Answer

The fact that Baby Jessica begins to cry after she accidentally pushes her stuffed toy behind the couch, out of her line of vision, suggests that she has not yet developed the concept of object permanence, which means the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen or heard. Consequently, when her stuffed toy disappears from her view, she may think that it no longer exists or has disappeared completely, which may make her feel upset and cry.

Question 4

In Piaget's theory, a circular reaction is a means of building schemes in which infants
A) attempt to form mental symbols of the world.
B) try to repeat chance motor activities again and again.
C) try to imitate the behaviors of others around them.
D) attempt to act out imaginary activities.

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, circular reactions are repetitive actions that infants engage in to develop their motor skills and build schemes. These actions are often chance behaviors, such as grasping or shaking objects, that the infant repeats over and over again to understand and manipulate their environment.

Question 5

Baby Faith sucks, grasps, and looks in much the same way, no matter what experiences she encounters. Faith is probably in Substage ____ of Piaget's sensorimotor period.
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Accepted Answer

Substage 1 is the reflex stage, which is where newborns demonstrate reflexes such as sucking, grasping, and looking in response to stimuli, but do not yet show intentional behavior or coordination of their reflexes. Therefore, Baby Faith's behavior is consistent with Substage 1 of Piaget's sensorimotor period.

Question 6

According to Piaget, organization takes place
A) apart from direct contact with the environment.
B) only during the preoperational stage.
C) during Substage 3 of Piaget's sensorimotor period.
D) when new schemes are formed.

Accepted Answer

Organization, according to Piaget, refers to the internal rearrangement and linking of schemes, which occurs apart from direct contact with the environment.

Question 7

During Substage __ of the sensorimotor period, babies repeat chance behaviors largely motivated by basic needs.
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Accepted Answer

During Substage 2 of the sensorimotor period, known as Primary Circular Reactions, infants repeat actions that are centered around their own body and are motivated by basic needs, such as sucking their thumb.

Question 8

Two landmark cognitive changes that take place in Substage 4 of the sensorimotor period of Piaget's theory are ________ and ________.
A) deferred imitation; animistic thinking
B) intentional behavior; object permanence
C) dual representation; intentional behavior
D) deferred imitation; object permanence

Accepted Answer

In Substage 4 of the sensorimotor period of Piaget's theory, children develop intentional behavior and object permanence. Intentional behavior refers to the ability to carry out a planned action with a goal in mind, while object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight. Deferred imitation and animistic thinking are characteristic of earlier substages, and dual representation refers to the ability to mentally represent an object in multiple ways, which typically emerges in Substage 6.

Question 9

In Piaget's theory, ____________ involves building schemes through direct interaction with the environment.
A) disequilibrium
B) assimilation
C) organization
D) adaptation

Accepted Answer

Adaptation involves building schemes through direct interaction with the environment. This process involves two complementary processes, assimilation and accommodation, which help individuals adapt to and interact with their environment.

Question 10

Baby Sabrina opens her mouth differently for a nipple than for a spoon. In Piaget's theory, this is an example of a ________ circular reaction.
A) reflexive
B) primary
C) secondary
D) tertiary

Accepted Answer

Primary circular reactions are actions that are repeated for their own sake, such as sucking on a thumb or rocking back and forth. In this case, Baby Sabrina is opening her mouth differently for a nipple than for a spoon, which is an example of a primary circular reaction.

Question 11

In Piaget's sensorimotor stage, infants and toddlers
A) "think" with their eyes, ears, and hands.
B) assimilate more than they accommodate.
C) represent their experiences in speech, gesture, and play.
D) carry out many activities inside their heads.

Accepted Answer

In Piaget's sensorimotor stage, infants and toddlers "think" with their eyes, ears, and hands as they explore and learn about their environment through their senses and motor abilities. They do not have the capacity for abstract or symbolic thought yet.

Question 12

In Piaget's theory, during _________, toddlers use their current schemes to interpret the external world.
A) equilibrium
B) assimilation
C) accommodation
D) organization

Accepted Answer

During assimilation, toddlers use their current schemes (mental representations) to interpret and make sense of the external world. They fit new experiences into their existing schemas, even if it means distorting, modifying, or ignoring information that does not fit. This process helps children to organize and make sense of their experiences, but it can also lead to misconceptions and errors if they do not modify their schemas through accommodation.

Question 13

When children are not changing much, they
A) are in a state of disequilibrium.
B) assimilate more than they accommodate.
C) experience cognitive discomfort.
D) modify their schemes.

Accepted Answer

When children are not changing much, they are assimilating more than they are accommodating. This means that they are fitting new information into existing mental frameworks rather than adjusting those frameworks to fit the new information.

Question 14

According to Piaget, during ________, children create new schemes or adjust old ones.
A) assimilation
B) disequilibrium
C) organization
D) accommodation

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, in order to adjust to new experiences, children engage in the process of accommodation. This involves modifying their existing schemas or creating entirely new ones to fit the new information they are encountering.

Question 15

Piaget's ___________ stage is the most complex period of development.
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) concrete operational
D) formal operational

Accepted Answer

The answer of Piaget's ___________ stage is the most complex...

Question 16

In Piaget's sequence of sensorimotor development, newborns first develop
A) mental representations.
B) tertiary circular schemes.
C) reflexive schemes.
D) primary circular schemes.

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's sequence of sensorimotor development, the first stage (birth to approximately 2 years) is characterized by the development of reflexive schemes. This includes the use of innate reflexes to respond to stimuli in the environment, such as rooting or sucking reflexes. Primary circular schemes (stage 1, substage 2) come next, around 1-4 months of age, and involve intentionally repeating actions that were initially accidental. Tertiary circular schemes (stage 5) occur around 12-18 months and involve intentionally varying actions to explore the effects on the environment. Finally, mental representations (stage 6) allow children to form internal representations of objects and events, enabling them to think about things that are not currently present.

Question 17

According to Piaget, intentional, or goal-directed, behavior first occurs in Substage ____ of the sensorimotor period.
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Accepted Answer

In Piaget's theory, intentional or goal-directed behavior first appears in Substage 4 of the sensorimotor period, which is characterized by the coordination of secondary circular reactions.

Question 18

Baby Franklin practiced his dropping and throwing schemes, and eventually developed an understanding of height. This achievement is an example of
A) organization.
B) accommodation.
C) equilibrium.
D) assimilation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Baby Franklin practiced his dropping and throwing...

Question 19

At 6 months, Annabelle dropped her rattle in a fairly rigid way. By 12 months, she tossed objects down the basement stairs, bounced them off walls, and threw them in the air. Annabelle's modifications of her dropping scheme are an example of
A) accommodation.
B) equilibrium.
C) organization.
D) assimilation.

Accepted Answer

Annabelle's modifications of her dropping scheme demonstrate accommodation, which is the process of adapting one's current ways of thinking to incorporate new information or experiences. She is adapting her throwing behavior to match the characteristics of different objects and environments. Equilibrium refers to a balance between assimilation and accommodation, and organization refers to the process of grouping information and experiences into mental categories.

Question 20

According to Piaget, infants' very first schemes are
A) disorganized bits of information.
B) based on internal representations of experience.
C) sensorimotor action patterns.
D) deliberate and creative.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory states that infants develop their first schemes through sensorimotor action patterns. These patterns involve the infant's movements, senses, and reflexes as they interact with their environment.

Quiz 6: Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Baby Bertha accidentally knocks a toy hung on her crib. Over the next several days, Bertha tries to repeat this effect, gradually forming a "hitting" scheme. In Piaget's theory, this is an example of a ________ circular reaction.

During periods of rapid cognitive change,

Baby Jessica accidentally pushes her stuffed toy behind the couch, out of her line of vision. One possible reason Jessica begins to cry is that she has not yet developed

In Piaget's theory, a circular reaction is a means of building schemes in which infants

Baby Faith sucks, grasps, and looks in much the same way, no matter what experiences she encounters. Faith is probably in Substage ____ of Piaget's sensorimotor period.

According to Piaget, organization takes place

During Substage __ of the sensorimotor period, babies repeat chance behaviors largely motivated by basic needs.

Two landmark cognitive changes that take place in Substage 4 of the sensorimotor period of Piaget's theory are and .

In Piaget's theory, ____________ involves building schemes through direct interaction with the environment.

Baby Sabrina opens her mouth differently for a nipple than for a spoon. In Piaget's theory, this is an example of a ________ circular reaction.

In Piaget's sensorimotor stage, infants and toddlers

In Piaget's theory, during _________, toddlers use their current schemes to interpret the external world.

When children are not changing much, they

According to Piaget, during ________, children create new schemes or adjust old ones.

Piaget's ___________ stage is the most complex period of development.

In Piaget's sequence of sensorimotor development, newborns first develop

According to Piaget, intentional, or goal-directed, behavior first occurs in Substage ____ of the sensorimotor period.

Baby Franklin practiced his dropping and throwing schemes, and eventually developed an understanding of height. This achievement is an example of

At 6 months, Annabelle dropped her rattle in a fairly rigid way. By 12 months, she tossed objects down the basement stairs, bounced them off walls, and threw them in the air. Annabelle's modifications of her dropping scheme are an example of

According to Piaget, infants' very first schemes are