Question 1

Which of the following is a description of Piaget's preoperational stage
A) The child learns to understand time, space, and numbers and to use deductive reasoning
B) The child is able to form mental images
C) The child perceives the environment only through the senses
D) The child can think in abstract terms

Accepted Answer

Piaget's preoperational stage is characterized by the ability to form mental images or symbols, but the child is not yet capable of logical reasoning or understanding abstract concepts. Option A describes Piaget's formal operational stage; option C describes Piaget's sensorimotor stage; and option D describes Piaget's formal operational stage.

Question 2

Rhonda is currently 9 years old.Rhonda is most likely in the _______ stage of cognitive development.
A) sensorimotor
B) locomotor
C) concrete operational
D) formal operational

Accepted Answer

According to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the concrete operational stage typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11. This stage is characterized by the development of logical thought and the ability to handle abstract concepts in a more concrete manner. Given that Rhonda is 9 years old, she is most likely in the concrete operational stage.

Question 3

Which age below is INCORRECTLY labeled with a developmental stage,in Piaget's theory
A) 12 months; sensorimotor stage
B) 18 months; oral-sensory stage
C) 4 years; preoperational stage
D) 9 years; concrete operational stage

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory does not have a stage labeled as "oral-sensory". The correct label for 18 months would be the sensorimotor stage.

Question 4

Which of the following is a description of Piaget's concrete operational stage
A) The child learns to understand time, space, and numbers and to use deductive reasoning
B) The child is able to form mental images
C) The child perceives the environment only through the senses
D) The child can think in abstract terms

Accepted Answer

During the concrete operational stage, which typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11, children gain a better understanding of mental operations. They start thinking logically about concrete events, grasp the concept of conservation, and can perform operations such as ordering and sorting objects. This stage is characterized by the development of logical thought concerning concrete objects, understanding of time, space, and quantity, but not yet capable of abstract thinking.

Question 5

During the sensorimotor period
A) children begin developing a theory of mind
B) children form schemas based on their senses
C) children learn to transform objects mentally
D) children develop the ability of conservation

Accepted Answer

During the sensorimotor period (birth to 2 years old), children form schemas based on their senses. They learn about the world around them through their sense of touch, sight, hearing, taste and smell. They develop an understanding of their environment through these senses and begin to form schemas as a way of organizing this information. This is the first stage of Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Although children begin to develop a theory of mind during the later stages of cognitive development, this does not occur during the sensorimotor period. Children also do not develop the ability of conservation until the concrete operational period (around 7 to 11 years old). While children may learn to transform objects mentally during the sensorimotor period, this is not the defining characteristic of this stage.

Question 6

A four-year-old child is shown a row of seven red checkers.He is asked to place a black checker immediately above each red one.On doing so,the child agrees that there are as many red as black checkers.The experimenter then spreads out the black checkers so that the line they form is longer than that formed by the red checkers.The experimenter asks whether there are more red checkers or more black checkers in order to determine whether the child:
A) has attained object permanence
B) demonstrates conservation
C) can perform formal operations
D) has a theory of mind

Accepted Answer

The question is testing whether the child has achieved the concept of conservation, which is the understanding that the quantity of an object remains the same even if its appearance changes. By agreeing that there are the same number of black and red checkers, the child demonstrates conservation. The fact that the child may be tricked by the change in appearance of the two lines is not relevant to the conservation concept being tested. Object permanence, formal operations, and theory of mind are not being tested by this task.

Question 7

Which of the following is a description of Piaget's sensorimotor stage
A) The child learns to understand time, space, and numbers and to use deductive reasoning
B) The child is able to form mental images
C) The child perceives the environment only through the senses
D) The child can think in abstract terms

Accepted Answer

Piaget's sensorimotor stage is characterized by the child's perception and understanding of the environment through their senses, such as hearing, seeing, touching, and tasting. The child has not yet developed the ability to think in abstract terms or understand concepts such as time or numbers. The child also does not have the ability to form mental images until later stages of development.

Question 8

A four-year-old looks at a picture of a dragon while on the telephone with her grandfather.If Piaget's claims of egocentrism are correct,the child is likely to:
A) describe the dragon picture to her grandfather
B) ignore her grandfather when he asks her about her day
C) tell her grandfather to look at the dragon
D) ask her grandfather if he would like to see the picture the next time they are together

Accepted Answer

Piaget's concept of egocentrism in children refers to their difficulty in understanding that other people do not share the same perspective or have the same information as they do. In this scenario, telling her grandfather to look at the dragon demonstrates this egocentrism, as the child assumes her grandfather can see the picture just because she can, despite the physical impossibility over a telephone conversation.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a criticism that has been leveled at Piaget's theory of cognitive development
A) Piaget underestimated the contribution of environmental factors to social development.
B) Cognitive development may proceed more gradually and in a more ongoing fashion than a stage theory such as Piaget's would suggest.
C) Children are generally less sophisticated in their cognitive development than Piaget proposed; that is, Piaget tended to overestimate children's level of cognitive development.
D) Piaget's theory may not generalize well across cultures.

Accepted Answer

Piaget has been criticized for underestimating children's cognitive abilities, not overestimating them. Critics argue that children can perform tasks at earlier ages than Piaget suggested when given appropriate instruction and context.

Question 10

Mr.Eseston asks Colin if he wants his sandwich in one piece,or cut into two pieces.Colin asks him to keep it in one piece because he isn't hungry enough to eat two pieces.Colin's answer suggests that he
A) has not achieved object permanence.
B) does not have a theory of mind.
C) does not yet understand conservation.
D) has mastered the concept of conservation.

Accepted Answer

Colin's response suggests that he does not yet understand conservation, which is the idea that despite changes in appearance, the amount of a substance remains the same. Colin seems to believe that the act of cutting a sandwich in two pieces would somehow change the amount of sandwich that he has to eat, which indicates a lack of understanding of conservation. The other options (object permanence and theory of mind) are not relevant to this situation.

Question 11

Which of the following statements best expresses preoperational children's degree of cognitive sophistication
A) They understand that objects exist when they are not visible.
B) They can readily take another person's viewpoint.
C) They can perform such mental operations as conservation.
D) They can use language to represent objects.

Accepted Answer

Preoperational children are able to use language to represent objects, which is a cognitive skill known as symbolic representation. However, they have not yet developed the ability to perform mental operations, understand conservation, or take another person's viewpoint.

Question 12

Which of the following is a description of Piaget's formal operational stage
A) The child learns to understand time, space, and numbers and to use deductive reasoning
B) The child is able to form mental images
C) The child perceives the environment only through the senses
D) The child can think in abstract terms

Accepted Answer

Piaget's formal operational stage is characterized by the ability to think in abstract terms, make hypothetical deductions, and reason deductively. This stage is typically reached in adolescence and marks a significant milestone in cognitive development. Options A, B, and C describe earlier stages in Piaget's theory, such as the concrete operational stage and the sensorimotor stage.

Question 13

Jay complains to his father that he wants more juice.His father takes the juice Jay has in his glass and pours it into a taller but narrower glass.Jay is now content that he has more juice.Jay has apparently failed to develop:
A) object permanence
B) a theory of mind
C) formal operations
D) conservation

Accepted Answer

Jay's reaction indicates that he has not yet developed the concept of conservation, which is the ability to understand that an object retains its properties (in this case, the amount of juice) even when its appearance changes (such as pouring it into a taller glass).

Question 14

When an infant recognizes that objects continue to exist even when they are no longer in sight,the infant has attained what Piaget termed:
A) theory of mind
B) conservation
C) formal operations
D) object permanence

Accepted Answer

Object permanence is the term Piaget coined to describe a child's ability to understand that an object still exists even if it is hidden or out of sight. This is a key developmental milestone that is usually reached by around 8 months of age. A child who has not yet attained object permanence may cry or become upset when their favorite toy is taken away, because they believe it no longer exists.

Question 15

Edward is currently in the second grade.According to Piaget,Edward is in the ________ stage of cognitive development.
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) concrete operational
D) formal operational

Accepted Answer

The answer of Edward is currently in the second grade.According...

Question 16

To stop baby Rudy from fussing for a sharp knife on the kitchen table,Rudy's mother put it in her apron."Out of sight,out of mind," she said,and it worked.Rudy's mother capitalized on Rudy's lack of:
A) conservation
B) egocentric thought
C) object permanence
D) a theory of mind

Accepted Answer

Object permanence is the understanding that even if an object is out of sight, it still exists. In this scenario, Rudy's mother hid the sharp knife in her apron, which made it out of sight for Rudy. Rudy, being a baby, lacks object permanence and forgets about the knife since he can no longer see it.

Question 17

In one elementary school curriculum,mathematical variables first appear in the sixth grade.Why are they not introduced in the fourth or fifth grade
A) Children in the concrete operational stage cannot reason with hypothetical entities such as variables.
B) According to Piaget, concrete operational children should be able to reason with variables.
C) Children are incapable of conservation and reversibility until the beginning of the formal operational period.
D) Dealing with variables requires post-conventional thought, which does not usually appear until adolescence.

Accepted Answer

Children in the concrete operational stage are not able to reason with hypothetical entities such as variables. This stage occurs between the ages of 7 and 12, which corresponds to the fourth and fifth grade. Therefore, introducing variables at this stage may not be developmentally appropriate. Variables are typically introduced in the sixth grade when children enter the formal operational stage and are better able to reason with abstract concepts.

Question 18

Dawn is 1 year old.Ellis is 5 years old.Fritzi is 9 years old.Girard is 15 years old.Which child is correctly matched with the stage that she is likely in
A) Dawn -- sensorimotor
B) Ellis - concrete operational
C) Fritzi - formal operational
D) Girard - preoperational

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the sensorimotor stage occurs from birth to around 2 years old. During this stage, infants coordinate sensory experiences with physical actions, such as grasping and putting things in their mouth. Since Dawn is only 1 year old, she is most likely in the sensorimotor stage. The other options are incorrect as they refer to stages that occur later in development.

Question 19

A child demonstrates object permanence,egocentrism,and a failure to conserve.She is most likely in which Piagetian stage
A) preoperational
B) concrete operational
C) sensorimotor
D) formal operational

Accepted Answer

The child demonstrating object permanence, egocentrism, and a failure to conserve suggests that she is most likely in the preoperational stage of cognitive development. In this stage, children are able to represent objects in their mind even when they are not present (object permanence) but still struggle to understand conservation (the idea that changing the appearance of something does not change its properties). They also tend to be egocentric, meaning they have difficulty understanding other perspectives and viewpoints.

Question 20

Some Western legal systems denote either 7 or 8 as the age at which a child attains the ability to reason.Is such a designation defensible from a Piagetian standpoint
A) Yes. Children do acquire some basic reasoning skills during the concrete operational period.
B) No. Children have no reasoning skills during the concrete operational period.
C) No. At this point, children have only a very rudimentary theory of mind.
D) No. Children are unable to reason prior to the formal operational period.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development identifies the concrete operational stage, which occurs between ages 7 and 12, as the period during which children develop the ability to reason logically about concrete objects and events. Therefore, designating 7 or 8 as the age at which a child attains the ability to reason is defensible from a Piagetian standpoint, as children do acquire some basic reasoning skills during this stage.

Quiz 6: Psychological Science

Which of the following is a description of Piaget's preoperational stage

Rhonda is currently 9 years old.Rhonda is most likely in the _______ stage of cognitive development.

Which age below is INCORRECTLY labeled with a developmental stage,in Piaget's theory

Which of the following is a description of Piaget's concrete operational stage

During the sensorimotor period

Which of the following is a description of Piaget's sensorimotor stage

A four-year-old looks at a picture of a dragon while on the telephone with her grandfather.If Piaget's claims of egocentrism are correct,the child is likely to:

Which of the following is NOT a criticism that has been leveled at Piaget's theory of cognitive development

Mr.Eseston asks Colin if he wants his sandwich in one piece,or cut into two pieces.Colin asks him to keep it in one piece because he isn't hungry enough to eat two pieces.Colin's answer suggests that he

Which of the following statements best expresses preoperational children's degree of cognitive sophistication

Which of the following is a description of Piaget's formal operational stage

Jay complains to his father that he wants more juice.His father takes the juice Jay has in his glass and pours it into a taller but narrower glass.Jay is now content that he has more juice.Jay has apparently failed to develop:

When an infant recognizes that objects continue to exist even when they are no longer in sight,the infant has attained what Piaget termed:

Edward is currently in the second grade.According to Piaget,Edward is in the ________ stage of cognitive development.

To stop baby Rudy from fussing for a sharp knife on the kitchen table,Rudy's mother put it in her apron."Out of sight,out of mind," she said,and it worked.Rudy's mother capitalized on Rudy's lack of:

In one elementary school curriculum,mathematical variables first appear in the sixth grade.Why are they not introduced in the fourth or fifth grade

Dawn is 1 year old.Ellis is 5 years old.Fritzi is 9 years old.Girard is 15 years old.Which child is correctly matched with the stage that she is likely in

A child demonstrates object permanence,egocentrism,and a failure to conserve.She is most likely in which Piagetian stage

Some Western legal systems denote either 7 or 8 as the age at which a child attains the ability to reason.Is such a designation defensible from a Piagetian standpoint