Piaget's classic conservation task involves two short containers that contain equal amounts of liquid. While a child watches, the water from one container is poured into a tall, thin beaker. The child is asked which beaker holds more water, the short container or the tall container. Four-year-old Daniel answers the question incorrectly, while seven-year-old Emily is able to answer the question correctly. Why?
A) Daniel is in the preoperational stage, while Emily is in the concrete operational stage.
B) Girls progress through the stages of cognitive development earlier and faster than boys do.
C) Emily is in the formal operational stage, and Daniel is in the concrete operational stage.
D) Daniel is in the sensorimotor stage, and Emily is in the preoperational stage.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Piaget's conservation task involves understanding that quantity does not change despite physical appearance. At age four, children are in the preoperational stage, which is characterized by egocentrism and inability to understand conservation. Seven-year-old Emily is in the concrete operational stage, which is characterized by the ability to understand conservation and logical operations. Therefore, Emily is able to correctly answer the question while Daniel cannot because he is in the preoperational stage.

Piaget's Classic Conservation Task Involves Two Short Containers That Contain