Question 1

Carl can correctly answer a question such as, "If all flegs are blats, and if all blats are dulms, are all flegs also dulms?" From Piaget's perspective, Carl is most likely in the _______ stage of cognitive development.
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) formal operations
D) concrete operations

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the formal operations stage begins at around age 12 and continues throughout adulthood. This stage involves the ability to think logically, systematically, and abstractly, which is demonstrated by Carl's ability to reason through the given information and draw a conclusion. The other stages (sensorimotor, preoperational, and concrete operations) are characterized by more concrete, less systematic thinking.

Question 2

In describing the cognitive abilities of infants, Piaget appears to have:
A) Underestimated what they know and can do
B) Overestimated what they know and can do
C) Assessed their abilities quite accurately
D) Overestimated the importance of language in their early thinking

Accepted Answer

Piaget underestimated the cognitive abilities of infants, as later research using more sensitive methods has shown that infants know and can do more than Piaget suggested.

Question 3

Choose the statement below that most accurately reflects recent research findings concerning Piaget's theory of cognitive development.
A) The order in which various logical thinking capabilities emerge is consistent with the sequence that Piaget proposed.
B) The egocentrism associated with the preoperational stage continues to be common even in the upper elementary grades.
C) Concrete operational thinking abilities, such as conservation and class inclusion, develop later than Piaget believed.
D) Formal operational thinking abilities, such as the ability to think and reason about abstract and hypothetical ideas, begin to emerge in the preschool years.

Accepted Answer

Recent research generally supports Piaget's proposed sequence of cognitive development stages, although the ages at which children reach these stages may vary.

Question 4

From Piaget's perspective, why is language critical for children's cognitive development?
A) It helps them get things they want.
B) It gives them a means for symbolically thinking about objects and events.
C) It takes up much of their mental energy and so helps to keep them from being easily distracted.
D) It gives them a better self-image, because they are now aware that they can communicate effectively with other human beings.

Accepted Answer

Language is critical for children's cognitive development according to Piaget because it provides them with a means for symbolically thinking about objects and events, which is essential for the development of thought and understanding.

Question 5

Which one of the following examples best illustrates symbolic thought?
A) Isabelle pushes a classmate off the swing so that she can use it.
B) Edward tries not to cry when his mother drops him off on the first day of kindergarten.
C) Richard actively manipulates a new toy to find out what it does.
D) Laura asks herself, "Hmm, where did I put my social studies book?"

Accepted Answer

Symbolic thought involves the ability to use symbols, words, or objects to represent something that is not physically present. Laura asking herself where she put her book is an example of using language to represent the concept of her missing book, illustrating symbolic thought.

Question 6

As Valerie grows older, she becomes increasingly proficient in a variety of tasks involving spatial reasoning, including drawing three-dimensional figures, solving geometry problems, and predicting where balls are apt to go when she hits them in a tennis game. From a neo-Piagetian perspective, Valerie's simultaneous progress in these diverse areas suggests that she:
A) Is in a state of equilibrium
B) Is in her zone of proximal development for spatial tasks
C) Can assimilate diverse spatial tasks into a single mega-scheme
D) Has a central conceptual structure for spatial relationships

Accepted Answer

From a neo-Piagetian perspective, the improvement across a range of tasks involving spatial reasoning suggests that Valerie has developed a central conceptual structure for spatial relationships. This concept explains how children can apply understanding from one domain (e.g., geometry) to others (e.g., sports, drawing) once they have developed an overarching understanding or structure in that area.

Question 7

Which one of the following statements reflects a concern about the separation and control of variables?
A) "How do you think I should make amends with Martha? If I tell her I'm sorry, she might think I'm lying."
B) "I'm catching more tadpoles today, but I don't know if it's because I'm using a larger container to catch them or because I'm working in a different part of the frog pond."
C) "I have two tests to study for tonight-science and Spanish. I'll study one subject before dinner and the other one after dinner so I don't get them confused."
D) "I'm trying to learn how to do a lay-up shot. Can you show me all the things I should do, going one step at a time?"

Accepted Answer

This statement reflects a concern about the separation of variables because the person is unsure if the increase in tadpole catching is due to a larger container or a different location in the pond, indicating that they are unsure which variable is contributing to the change.

Question 8

If we look at cognitive development from Piaget's perspective, we would expect a child in the concrete operations stage to have the greatest difficulty with which one of the following questions?
A) How are an apple and a blueberry alike?
B) If you have 8 Macintosh apples and 2 Golden Delicious apples, then do you have more Macintoshes or more apples?
C) An apple pie is cut into 4 pieces. A blueberry pie of the same size is cut into 12 pieces. How many pieces of blueberry pie do you need to have the same amount as 3 pieces of the apple pie?
D) If we have one row of blueberries spread like so: o o o o o o and another row of blueberries spread like so: o o o o o o
Then does one row have more blueberries than the other?

Accepted Answer

Children in the concrete operational stage (ages 7 to 11) can logically think about objects and events. However, they struggle with abstract and hypothetical concepts. Question C involves proportional reasoning, which is more abstract and typically develops fully in the formal operational stage, making it the most challenging for children in the concrete operational stage.

Question 9

Which one of the following examples best illustrates Piaget's concept of object permanence?
A) Two-year-old Jasmine looks for a favorite toy her father has just hidden in a box.
B) Six-year-old Lucas thinks that his recently deceased grandfather is still alive.
C) Ten-year-old Margaret glues the pieces of a vase she has just broken, claiming that she'll make it look "good as new."
D) Fifteen-year-old Kenneth finally understands his geometry teacher's statement that two parallel lines might go on forever without ever touching.

Accepted Answer

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight or hidden. Two-year-old Jasmine looking for her toy that her father has hidden demonstrates this understanding. She knows the toy still exists even though she can't see it at the moment. The other options do not illustrate object permanence.

Question 10

James is talking about how much better the world would be if everyone just agreed to love everyone else. In Piaget's view, James is most likely to be
A) 4 years old
B) 7 years old
C) 10 years old
D) 14 years old

Accepted Answer

James is most likely to be 14 years old because this age corresponds to Piaget's formal operational stage, where abstract thinking and the consideration of hypothetical concepts, such as universal love, become possible.

Question 11

From Piaget's perspective, why might it be wise to postpone the teaching of complex fractions until middle school or high school?
A) Younger students haven't attained conservation.
B) Younger students cannot learn complex equations.
C) Younger students haven't attained proportional reasoning.
D) Younger students don't know their math facts well enough.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory suggests that children reach the stage of formal operational thinking, which includes abstract reasoning skills such as proportional reasoning, around the age of 11 or 12. Complex fractions require this type of abstract thought, making it more suitable for middle or high school students.

Question 12

The following four junior high school science teachers are teaching the concept molecule to their students. In each classroom, some of the students are frequently using formal operational reasoning, whereas others are consistently using concrete operational reasoning. In which classroom are the concrete operational thinkers most likely to have difficulty understanding?
A) Mr. Armani lets students touch and manipulate concrete models of various molecules.
B) Mr. Bendetti lets students look at the same concrete models that Mr. Armani has used.
C) Mr. Carmen verbally describes how different elements are made up of different numbers of neutrons, protons, and electrons.
D) Mr. Davidson has students role-play being neutrons, protons, and electrons. The "neutron" and "proton" students huddle together in the middle of the room, and the "electrons" move around them.

Accepted Answer

Mr. Carmen's approach relies heavily on abstract verbal descriptions without the aid of concrete materials or visual aids, making it more challenging for students who are in the concrete operational stage to grasp the concept of molecules.

Question 13

Piaget spoke of egocentrism as a characteristic of preoperational thought. Three of the following are examples of egocentrism as Piaget defined it. Which one is not?
A) Justin is constantly grabbing objects and pulling them toward himself.
B) Lois tells a story as if her listeners already know many details they can't possibly know.
C) Kate cannot relate to the question, "How do you think Molly feels?"
D) Frank and Isabel are playing checkers without realizing that each of them is playing by different rules.

Accepted Answer

Egocentrism, as defined by Piaget, refers to the inability to differentiate between one's own perspective and someone else's perspective. Choices B, C, and D illustrate situations where children fail to consider others' viewpoints or knowledge, which aligns with Piaget's concept of egocentrism. Choice A, involving grabbing objects, is more indicative of a focus on physical actions and does not directly relate to the cognitive aspect of understanding or failing to understand others' perspectives.

Question 14

Which one of the following conclusions can be derived from recent research regarding Piaget's theory of cognitive development?
A) Middle school and secondary school students typically have an easier time thinking logically in the social sciences than they do in the physical and life sciences.
B) Youngsters will think more logically about a topic when they have acquired relevant knowledge and experiences related to the topic.
C) Many young people continue to show signs of preoperational thinking until well into the high school years.
D) Youngsters have an easier time understanding fractions and proportions in adolescence if such concepts are first introduced at the same time that division is introduced (e.g., in third grade).

Accepted Answer

Recent research supports the idea that logical thinking in children and adolescents is enhanced when they have relevant knowledge and experiences related to the topic. This finding aligns with the understanding that cognitive development is influenced by the interaction between innate capabilities and environmental factors, including education and personal experiences.

Question 15

When neo-Piagetian theorists suggest that working memory capacity increases with age, they mean that as children get older, they:
A) Become increasingly aware of their own thoughts
B) Acquire more sophisticated logical thought processes
C) Can simultaneously think about more things at a single time
D) Gain a wealth of information about a wide variety of topics, especially at school

Accepted Answer

Neo-Piagetian theories suggest that working memory capacity, or the ability to hold and manipulate information in mind, increases with age, allowing children to think about more things simultaneously.

Question 16

Piaget's sensorimotor stage is characterized by:
A) The beginnings of conservation
B) Basic schemes for dealing with abstract ideas
C) Schemes based primarily on perceptions and behaviors
D) Inaccurate mental representations of the physical and biological world

Accepted Answer

Piaget's sensorimotor stage is characterized by schemes based primarily on perceptions and behaviors. This stage is focused on the development of sensorimotor intelligence and involves integrating sensory experiences with motor actions. The child learns to coordinate their senses and motor abilities to achieve simple goals, and gradually begins to form mental representations of objects and events in the world. However, this stage does not yet involve abstract thinking, conservation, or accurate mental representations of the physical and biological world.

Question 17

Which one of the following would Piaget be least likely to advocate for elementary school children?
A) Discussions with classmates
B) Field trips to hands-on science museums
C) Laboratory-type experiences with physical objects
D) Lectures that describe interesting scientific facts

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed in active, hands-on learning experiences and interactions with the environment and peers. Lectures that simply describe interesting scientific facts do not involve active engagement or learning through exploration and discovery.

Question 18

Imagine that you are a third-grade teacher. If you were to make predictions based on Piaget's stages of cognitive development, you would expect most or all of your students to exhibit _______ thinking.
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) formal operations
D) concrete operations

Accepted Answer

Most third-grade students, who are typically 8 to 9 years old, would be in the concrete operational stage according to Piaget's theory. This stage, which spans from about 7 to 11 years of age, is characterized by the development of logical thought, particularly in relation to concrete objects and situations, but not yet abstract concepts.

Question 19

Olivia understands why 3/5 and 9/15 are equivalent fractions. Based on this information, Olivia is probably in Piaget's _______ stage of development.
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) formal operations
D) concrete operations

Accepted Answer

The answer of Olivia understands why 3/5 and 9/15 are...

Question 20

Roger is shown two piles of sand and says that each pile has the same amount. However, when one pile is flattened with a shovel, Roger now claims emphatically that the flattened pile has less sand. Based on this information, Roger is probably in Piaget's _______ stage of development.
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) formal operations
D) concrete operations

Accepted Answer

Roger is likely in the preoperational stage of development, according to Jean Piaget's theory. This stage occurs roughly between the ages of 2 and 7 years. Children in this stage tend to focus on the appearance of objects rather than logical reasoning, which explains why Roger thinks the flattened pile has less sand despite the quantity remaining the same.

Quiz 6: Cognitive Development: Piaget and Vygotsky

Carl can correctly answer a question such as, "If all flegs are blats, and if all blats are dulms, are all flegs also dulms?" From Piaget's perspective, Carl is most likely in the _______ stage of cognitive development.

In describing the cognitive abilities of infants, Piaget appears to have:

Choose the statement below that most accurately reflects recent research findings concerning Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

From Piaget's perspective, why is language critical for children's cognitive development?

Which one of the following examples best illustrates symbolic thought?

Which one of the following statements reflects a concern about the separation and control of variables?

If we look at cognitive development from Piaget's perspective, we would expect a child in the concrete operations stage to have the greatest difficulty with which one of the following questions?

Which one of the following examples best illustrates Piaget's concept of object permanence?

James is talking about how much better the world would be if everyone just agreed to love everyone else. In Piaget's view, James is most likely to be

From Piaget's perspective, why might it be wise to postpone the teaching of complex fractions until middle school or high school?

Piaget spoke of egocentrism as a characteristic of preoperational thought. Three of the following are examples of egocentrism as Piaget defined it. Which one is not?

Which one of the following conclusions can be derived from recent research regarding Piaget's theory of cognitive development?

When neo-Piagetian theorists suggest that working memory capacity increases with age, they mean that as children get older, they:

Piaget's sensorimotor stage is characterized by:

Which one of the following would Piaget be least likely to advocate for elementary school children?

Imagine that you are a third-grade teacher. If you were to make predictions based on Piaget's stages of cognitive development, you would expect most or all of your students to exhibit _______ thinking.

Olivia understands why 3/5 and 9/15 are equivalent fractions. Based on this information, Olivia is probably in Piaget's _______ stage of development.

Roger is shown two piles of sand and says that each pile has the same amount. However, when one pile is flattened with a shovel, Roger now claims emphatically that the flattened pile has less sand. Based on this information, Roger is probably in Piaget's _______ stage of development.