Question 1

Gerard watched as a researcher placed five toy station wagons and three toy convertibles on a table.The researcher asked him if there were more station wagons or more cars,and Gerard correctly answered that there were more cars.Gerard's answer indicates that he has mastered

Accepted Answer

Gerard's ability to understand that the category of cars includes both station wagons and convertibles, and to recognize that there are more cars in total than just the subcategory of station wagons, indicates that he has mastered hierarchical classification problems. This skill involves understanding the relationship between a general category and more specific subcategories within it.

Question 2

John approaches problems systematically,considering various solutions and the consequences of each,before he decides on the implementation of any one solution.John is probably at which level of cognitive development?

Accepted Answer

John's approach to problem solving, considering various solutions and their consequences, is consistent with the characteristics of formal operational thinking. This level of cognitive development involves the ability to think abstractly and logically, consider hypothetical situations, and engage in deductive reasoning.

Question 3

The concrete operational stage of cognitive development lasts from approximately

Accepted Answer

The concrete operational stage of cognitive development lasts from approximately age 7 to 11. During this stage, children become more logical in their thinking and are able to perform operations on objects or ideas that are physically present. They also become better at understanding concepts such as conservation, class inclusion, and seriation.

Question 4

The preoperational stage of cognitive development lasts from approximately

Accepted Answer

The preoperational stage of cognitive development lasts from approximately ages 2 to 7, according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development. This stage is characterized by the development of symbolic thinking, language, and egocentrism. Children in this stage are unable to think logically or understand abstract concepts.

Question 5

The period of cognitive development that lasts from approximately birth to age two is the ____ stage.

Accepted Answer

The Sensorimotor stage is characterized by the development of object permanence and the coordination of sensory experiences with physical actions. This stage occurs from birth to age two.

Question 6

The correct order or sequence of Piaget's stages is

Accepted Answer

Piaget's stages of cognitive development follow a logical sequence based on the child's cognitive abilities at each stage. The sequence starts with the sensorimotor stage, where infants develop their senses and motor skills. This is followed by the preoperational stage, where children engage in symbolic play and start to use language. The concrete operational stage follows, where children begin to understand logical operations and conservation. Finally, the formal operational stage occurs in adolescence and adulthood, where individuals develop abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking. Therefore, the correct order or sequence of Piaget's stages is B, which is sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.

Question 7

The psychologist who contributed significantly to our understanding of the cognitive development of children is

Accepted Answer

Jean Piaget is the psychologist who contributed significantly to our understanding of the cognitive development of children. He proposed the theory of cognitive development, which suggests that children progress through several stages of cognitive development as they actively construct their understanding of the world. His work has had a significant impact on the fields of psychology, education, and developmental science.

Question 8

One of the criticisms of Piaget's theory of cognitive development is that

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory is criticized for not taking into account cultural and environmental factors that may shape cognitive development. Critics point out that the tasks used in Piaget's research were often unfamiliar to children from different cultures, and that different cultures may value and emphasize certain cognitive skills more than others.

Question 9

A five-year-old boy tells you that his kindergarten class has more boys than children.This indicates that he

Accepted Answer

The boy's statement indicates a misunderstanding of hierarchical classification, where "children" is a broader category that includes both "boys" and "girls." His inability to recognize that boys are a subset of children points to a difficulty with hierarchical classification problems.

Question 10

If a ball that a five-month-old infant is playing with rolls under a chair (and out of sight),the infant will not look for it.Piaget believed that this occurs because the infant

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that object permanence develops between 4-8 months of age. Infants younger than 8 months do not have a mental representation of the object that allows them to understand that it continues to exist even if it is out of sight. Therefore, when the ball rolls under the chair and out of sight, the infant does not look for it.

Question 11

According to Piaget,during the formal operational period of cognitive development,children begin to

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that during formal operational period, individuals develop the ability to think abstractly and hypothetically, rather than being limited to concrete objects or situations. This allows them to reason logically about abstract ideas and to consider multiple hypothetical scenarios. The acquisition of the concept of conservation and understanding the nature of hierarchical classification occur earlier in cognitive development.

Question 12

Water is poured from a short,broad beaker into a tall,skinny beaker.Is there more or less water now? A child answers that it's the same amount,only it's taller.The child is in which stage of cognitive development?

Accepted Answer

The child is in the concrete operational stage, where they understand the concept of conservation, realizing that the amount of water remains the same despite changes in its shape or container.

Question 13

The period of cognitive development that lasts from approximately age 11 onward is the ____ stage.

Accepted Answer

The formal operational stage of cognitive development begins around age 11 and continues into adulthood. It is characterized by an increase in abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, and the ability to understand complex concepts and relationships. This stage follows the concrete operational stage, which lasts from age 7 to 11 and is characterized by the ability to think logically about concrete objects and events. The preoperational stage, which lasts from age 2 to 7, is characterized by egocentric thinking and the inability to understand concepts such as conservation. The sensorimotor stage, which lasts from birth to age 2, is characterized by the development of object permanence and the coordination of sensory experiences with physical actions.

Question 14

Systematic problem-solving efforts are associated with individuals in the ____ stage of cognitive development.

Accepted Answer

Systematic problem-solving requires the ability to think abstractly and logically, which are characteristics of individuals in the formal operational stage of cognitive development. In this stage, individuals are able to think hypothetically, reason deductively, and mentally manipulate information. Thus, they are better equipped to approach complex problems in a systematic manner.

Question 15

The stage of concrete operations is said to be "concrete" because

Accepted Answer

The stage of concrete operations is so named because children at this stage can perform mental operations only on tangible or concrete objects and actual events. They cannot yet reason abstractly or hypothetically. The other answer choices are not accurate descriptions of the stage of concrete operations.

Question 16

It is probably fair to say that Piaget

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development, while influential, has been criticized for heavily emphasizing the role of maturation and underestimating the impact of social and cultural factors on children's development. This suggests that he may have overemphasized maturation as a factor in children's cognitive development.

Question 17

When Sam's mother made him a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch,Sam complained that he wanted two sandwiches because he was super-hungry.After his mother cut his sandwich in half,Sam was satisfied that he would have enough to eat.Sam's behavior indicates that he does not understand ____ and is probably in the ____ stage of cognitive development.

Accepted Answer

Sam's behavior indicates that he does not understand conservation, which is the understanding that the amount of an object or substance remains the same even if its appearance changes. He was still hungry, but was satisfied with half a sandwich because he did not understand that the amount of food was the same. This is characteristic of the preoperational stage of cognitive development, which typically occurs between the ages of 2 and 7. Children in this stage struggle with basic logic and tend to focus on superficial characteristics of objects rather than their underlying properties.

Question 18

Byron is planning to ask his parents if he can borrow their car on Friday night.He is thinking about all the possible reasons they might bring up for not letting him use the car,and thinking of a logical reply to each of these possible objections.Based on Piaget's model of cognitive development,Byron's thought processes illustrate

Accepted Answer

Byron's thinking process demonstrates the use of formal operational thought, which is the highest level of cognitive development according to Piaget's theory. It involves the ability to think abstractly, consider hypothetical situations, and generate multiple outcomes based on logical thinking. Byron is anticipating objections and preparing counterarguments, which requires abstract thinking and logical reasoning skills characteristic of formal operational thinking.

Question 19

Eight-year-old Eric watches as you flatten one of two equal-sized balls of clay into a pancake.Eric says they both still have the same amount of clay.When he is asked how he knows that the ball and the pancake have the same amount of clay,he points out that the pancake could once again be rolled up into a ball,demonstrating that he

Accepted Answer

Eric's ability to understand that the pancake can be rolled back into a ball shows that he has grasped the concept of reversibility, which is a key feature of concrete operational thinking. This suggests that Eric has moved beyond the preoperational stage and has developed the ability to think logically about concrete objects and events in the world around him.

Question 20

Piaget believed that children first become capable of hypothetical thinking during the

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory, the formal operational stage begins around 11 years of age and continues through adulthood. During this stage, individuals become capable of hypothetical thinking, which involves reasoning about possibilities and abstract concepts. They can also engage in deductive reasoning and think logically about abstract concepts without the need for concrete props or visual aids. Therefore, Piaget believed that children first become capable of hypothetical thinking during the formal operational stage.

Quiz 11: Human Development Across the Life Span