Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a criticism of Piaget's theory?

Accepted Answer

This statement is actually a contradiction of Piaget's theory, rather than a criticism of it. Piaget believed that abstract thought only develops in formal operational stage, while this statement suggests that children in the concrete operational stage are capable of abstract thought. Therefore, D is the correct answer as it does not present a criticism of Piaget's theory.

Question 2

Seven-year-old Amy demonstrates logical thinking when she plays checkers with her father, but she has some difficulty thinking logically about hypothetical situations or abstract ideas. Amy is most likely in the _____ stage of cognitive development.

Accepted Answer

Amy is in the concrete operational stage, where children can think logically about concrete events but struggle with abstract or hypothetical concepts.

Question 3

According to developmental psychologist Renée Baillargeon, infants younger than 6 months of age:

Accepted Answer

Renée Baillargeon's research suggests that infants as young as 3.5 months of age have an understanding of object permanence, meaning they realize that objects still exist even when they are out of sight.

Answer: A 
 Baillargeon also found that infants younger than 6 months of age learn general principles, such as cause-and-effect relationships and probability, rather than event-specific expectations.

Answer: C and D are incorrect 
 Baillargeon's research does not address comprehension vocabulary or preoperational thinking.

Question 4

In Piaget's theory, the term irreversibility refers to the:

Accepted Answer

Irreversibility is the inability to mentally reverse a sequence of events or operations. Therefore, the correct option is B - inability to reverse mental operations.

Question 5

Which of the following would characterize a child who is in the formal operational stage of cognitive development?

Accepted Answer

The formal operational stage is characterized by the ability to think abstractly and logically. This means the child can use logic and reason even when dealing with intangible concepts or hypothetical scenarios. Therefore, choice A is the best description of a child in this stage of cognitive development.

Question 6

During which stage of development does formal operational thinking typically begin to emerge?

Accepted Answer

Formal operational thinking typically begins to emerge during early adolescence, around the age of 11 or 12, according to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development. This stage is characterized by the ability to think logically, abstractly, and hypothetically about the world around them.

Question 7

Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky believed that cognitive development is strongly influenced by:

Accepted Answer

Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes that social and cultural factors play a significant role in cognitive development. This theory suggests that children learn through social interactions, language, and cultural symbols, rather than just individual exploration of their physical environment.

Question 8

The zone of proximal development is an important element in:

Accepted Answer

The zone of proximal development (ZPD) is a key concept in Vygotsky's sociocultural theory of cognitive development. It refers to the gap between what a learner can accomplish independently and what they can achieve with guidance and support from a more knowledgeable other, such as a teacher or peer. According to Vygotsky, learning and cognitive growth occur when learners engage in social interactions with others who challenge and scaffold their thinking within their ZPD.

Question 9

In Piaget's theory, the term centration refers to the tendency to:

Accepted Answer

Centration is the tendency of a child to focus on only one aspect of a situation, ignoring other aspects that may be relevant. This happens because the child is unable to mentally process multiple aspects of the situation at the same time. For example, a child may focus only on the height of a glass of water and ignore its width and volume, even if these are also important factors.

Question 10

The zone of proximal development refers to:

Accepted Answer

The zone of proximal development (ZPD) is the difference between a learner's current level of ability to perform a task without assistance or guidance and their potential ability to perform the same task with the help of a more skilled individual or through scaffolding. In other words, ZPD is the range of tasks that are too difficult for the learner to complete alone, but can be accomplished with guidance and support from someone who has more expertise or knowledge in the area.

Question 11

Which of the following illustrates egocentrism?

Accepted Answer

Egocentrism is when a child is unable to see a situation from another person's point of view. In option B, the child assumes the person on the phone can see his fingers, demonstrating egocentrism.

Question 12

In Piaget's theory, when a child demonstrates conservation, he or she:

Accepted Answer

Conservation refers to the understanding that two equal quantities remain equal even if the appearance of one is changed, as long as nothing is added or subtracted. This ability is typically demonstrated in children around the age of 7-12 years old according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Question 13

Most five-year-olds cannot correctly solve the classic conservation task involving equal amounts of water in different-sized containers because their thinking is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

The classic conservation task involves understanding that the amount of liquid remains the same even when poured into a differently shaped container. Most five-year-olds are characterized by irreversibility, meaning they cannot mentally reverse an action, and centration, meaning they focus on only one aspect of the situation (in this case, the shape of the container) and ignore other important factors (such as the amount of liquid). Egocentrism and gender schemas are related to understanding one's own perspective and gender roles, respectively, and are not as relevant to the conservation task. Object permanence and induction are also unrelated to this task. Logic and symbolic thought are important for problem-solving, but not specifically related to this task.

Question 14

Which of the following would characterize a child who is in the concrete operational stage of cognitive development?

Accepted Answer

The concrete operational stage is typically characterized by the ability to think logically, but this logic tends to be limited to tangible events or objects. Option A refers to the preoperational stage, where children tend to focus on one aspect of a situation. Option B describes the formal operational stage, where abstract reasoning is possible, and option C is not a characteristic of any stage of cognitive development.

Question 15

Psychologist Renée Baillargeon found that three-and-a-half-month-old infants appeared surprised when they watched a carrot pass behind a screen but fail to appear in a window in the screen. According to Baillargeon, this suggests that infants understand _____ at a much earlier age than Piaget suggested.

Accepted Answer

Baillargeon's research suggests that infants as young as 3.5 months old have an understanding of object permanence, which is the understanding that objects exist even when they're out of sight. This contradicts Piaget's theory, which argued that infants don't develop object permanence until they're about 8-9 months old.

Question 16

The research of psychologist _____ demonstrated that infants acquire object permanence at a much younger age than Piaget believed.

Accepted Answer

Renée Baillargeon's research demonstrated that infants as young as 3.5 months old have some understanding of object permanence, which is earlier than what Piaget believed.

Question 17

The research of psychologist Renée Baillargeon suggests that infants achieve an understanding of object permanence much earlier than Piaget's theory states. Why did Piaget underestimate the cognitive abilities of very young infants?

Accepted Answer

Piaget used tasks that required the infant to have reached a certain level of motor skill development, while Baillargeon used visual tasks to test for object permanence. Piaget believed that object permanence was not fully understood until around 8-9 months, when infants had developed enough motor skills to actively search for hidden objects. However, Baillargeon found that infants as young as 3.5 months showed signs of understanding object permanence through visual tasks that did not require motor skills.

Question 18

Ten-year-old Ben helped his five-year-old sister Hannah learn how to tie her shoelaces. This example illustrates which concept?

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates Vygotsky's zone of proximal development, which suggests that learning occurs when individuals receive guidance and assistance from more knowledgeable others who provide support in challenging but achievable tasks. Ben provides guidance and assistance to Hannah, who is able to learn and master a new skill with his help.

Question 19

Your textbook describes the classic conservation task in which a five-year-old child observes equal amounts of liquid in two identical short, wide containers. The child watches as liquid is poured from one short, wide container into a tall, thin container, and is then asked which container holds more water. How does a typical five-year-old respond?

Accepted Answer

A typical five-year-old, who is in the preoperational stage according to Piaget, is likely to focus on the height of the liquid and conclude that the tall, thin container has more water, demonstrating a lack of understanding of conservation.

Question 20

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?

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.

Quiz 9: Lifespan Development