Question 1

Lourdes is capable of hypothetico-deductive reasoning. When faced with a problem, which of the following will she do first?
A) Develop a general theory of all possible variables that might affect the outcome.
B) Deduce specific hypotheses about what might happen in a situation.
C) Test her hypotheses in an orderly fashion to see which ones work in the real world.
D) Examine the most obvious predictions about a situation.

Accepted Answer

Hypothetico-deductive reasoning involves starting with a general theory or hypothesis about possible variables and then deducing specific hypotheses to test.

Question 2

The ________ of propositional reasoning can be explained as the understanding that the accuracy of conclusions drawn from premises rests on the rules of logic, not on real-world confirmation.
A) major premise
B) logical necessity
C) secondary premise
D) metacognitive understanding

Accepted Answer

Logical necessity refers to the principle that if the premises of an argument are true, then the conclusion must also be true based on the established rules of logic, regardless of whether or not the conclusion accurately reflects real-world facts. This understanding is essential to effective propositional reasoning.

Question 3

The teacher says, "If mice are bigger than cats, and cats are bigger than elephants, then mice are bigger than elephants." This statement is likely to be judged
A) false by 11-year-old Craig.
B) false by 13-year-old Michael.
C) true by 9-year-old Rana.
D) true by 12-year-old Paige.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

In watching a concrete operational child and a formal operational adolescent solve the pendulum problem, what difference would be evident?
A) The concrete operational child will be completely unable to solve the problem.
B) The formal operational adolescent will solve the problem intuitively, without experimentation.
C) The formal operational adolescent will systematically test alternative hypotheses.
D) None; both will use similar strategies.

Accepted Answer

The formal operational adolescent, having reached a stage of intellectual development that involves systematic and logical thought, would be expected to approach the problem in a more analytical manner and systematically test alternative hypotheses. The concrete operational child, on the other hand, has only recently acquired the ability to conserve, or understand that physical properties remain the same even when appearances change, and is still developing the ability to reason systematically. Therefore, it is less likely that they would be able to solve the problem.

Question 5

For adolescents, propositional thought
A) limits their reasoning to the here and now.
B) prevents them from solving the red-and-green poker chip problem.
C) provides them with access to new realms of knowledge, such as higher math.
D) enables them to get along better with their peers.

Accepted Answer

Propositional thought, also known as formal operations, is the ability to think logically and systematically about abstract concepts and ideas. This type of thinking allows adolescents to access new realms of knowledge, including higher math and scientific thinking. They are able to manipulate ideas and concepts in their mind and reason about potential outcomes. Therefore, option C is the correct option. The other options are incorrect as they do not describe propositional thought accurately.

Question 6

An experimenter hides a poker chip in her hand and asks children to indicate whether the following statement is true, false, or uncertain: "Either the chip in my hand is green or it is not green." A concrete operational child will say the statement is ________. A formal operational adolescent will say the statement is ________.
A) uncertain; true
B) true; uncertain
C) uncertain; false
D) true; false

Accepted Answer

Concrete operational children are unable to think abstractly and cannot understand the concept of a logical tautology. Formal operational adolescents, however, can understand that the statement is true regardless of the color of the chip.

Question 7

Marcus is able to evaluate the logic of verbal statements without making reference to real-world circumstances. Marcus is engaging in
A) hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
B) propositional thought.
C) concrete operational thought.
D) cognitive intuition.

Accepted Answer

Propositional thought is the ability to evaluate the logic of verbal statements without making reference to real-world circumstances. This type of thinking involves the manipulation of abstract symbols and concepts, and it is a key aspect of formal operational thought, which is the highest level of cognitive development according to Piaget's theory. Hypothetico-deductive reasoning involves generating and testing hypotheses about cause-effect relationships, concrete operational thought involves the ability to reason logically about concrete events, and cognitive intuition involves making quick, gut-level decisions based on past experiences and implicit knowledge.

Question 8

In trying to solve the pendulum problem, formal operational adolescents usually
A) fail to notice variables not suggested by the concrete materials of the task.
B) think of many possible hypotheses.
C) have difficulty separating out the effects of variables.
D) are totally stumped; the problem is not solved until adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Formal operational adolescents are capable of generating many possible hypotheses in order to solve the pendulum problem. This is due to their ability to think abstractly and logically. However, they may struggle with separating out the effects of variables and may not consider all possible variables or factors that could affect the pendulum's motion.

Question 9

Six-year-old children can understand that hypotheses must be confirmed by the appropriate evidence, and they can sort out evidence concerning ________ variable(s).
A) only one
B) one or two
C) three
D) four or more

Accepted Answer

Six-year-old children have the ability to understand and sort out evidence concerning one or two variables. They are still developing their cognitive ability to handle more complex information, so choices C and D can be ruled out. Choice A is too limiting as children at this age can handle more than one variable. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 10

Bryan hears the following statement: "Either the train is moving or it is not moving." If Bryan is in the formal operational stage, he will say that
A) he needs to see the train to determine whether the statement is true or false.
B) the statement is true.
C) the statement is false.
D) the statement is both true and false at the same time.

Accepted Answer

If Bryan is in the formal operational stage, he will understand the concept of logic and the law of excluded middle, which states that a statement must either be true or false. In this case, the statement "Either the train is moving or it is not moving" is an example of a logically true statement (known as a tautology) because one of the two options must be true. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 11

Research into the development of formal operational tasks among peasants in tribal and village societies found that
A) formal operational thought occurs more often in women than men.
B) they often reason at a much higher level than young people in industrialized nations.
C) people can be capable of formal operational thought even if they rarely display it in everyday life.
D) they are incapable of mastering formal operational tasks.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that individuals in tribal and village societies can be capable of formal operational thought, but they may not frequently display it in everyday situations due to different cultural and educational contexts.

Question 12

Many college students and adults are not fully formal operational because
A) they lack extensive experience on the specific tasks that are being assessed.
B) they are not motivated to solve formal operational tasks.
C) only the very brightest people become fully formal operational.
D) they are more interested in socializing than in thinking.

Accepted Answer

Formal operational thinking requires the ability to think abstractly and solve complex problems. However, many college students and adults may not have had extensive experience with the specific tasks being assessed, which could hinder their ability to perform at a formal operational level. This does not necessarily reflect a lack of general intelligence or ability to reason, but rather a lack of specific experience with the tasks in question.

Question 13

In biology class, Zia had to determine which of two fertilizers was best for growing African violets. She tested not just for type of fertilizer but also for its concentration and frequency of use. Zia used
A) hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
B) propositional thought.
C) hierarchical classification.
D) transitive inference.

Accepted Answer

Zia used hypothetico-deductive reasoning to form a hypothesis about which fertilizer would be best for growing African violets based on her knowledge and observations, and then tested this hypothesis through experimentation with different concentrations and frequencies of use.

Question 14

School-age children have difficulty drawing accurate conclusions from propositional statements because they
A) find it more difficult to inhibit activation of well-learned knowledge.
B) adhere rigidly to the logical necessity of the statement.
C) are unable to think logically about any problem.
D) cannot yet understand the concept of a hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

School-age children often struggle with propositional reasoning because they find it challenging to inhibit their pre-existing knowledge and experiences, which can interfere with drawing conclusions based solely on the given propositions.

Question 15

Veronique can think abstractly about things she cannot perceive concretely. She is in Piaget's ________ stage.
A) concrete operational
B) formal operational
C) emerging adulthood
D) hypothetical reasoning

Accepted Answer

The formal operational stage is characterized by the ability to think abstractly and logically about hypothetical situations and concepts. This stage typically emerges around age 12 and is the final stage in Piaget's cognitive development theory.

Question 16

One reason that adolescents and adults do not always engage in formal operational thinking is that they
A) lack educational experiences that foster abstract reasoning.
B) may be capable of it, but fall back on less demanding intuitive judgments.
C) lack the motivation for higher-level thinking and problem solving.
D) prefer to make trial-and-error judgments.

Accepted Answer

While adolescents and adults are capable of formal operational thinking, they may not always engage in it because they often fall back on less demanding intuitive judgments. This is because these judgments are quicker and require less mental effort, making them more appealing in many situations. Additionally, individuals may not have had educational experiences that have adequately fostered their abstract reasoning abilities. Lack of motivation and preferring trial-and-error judgments are not the primary reasons why individuals may not engage in formal operational thinking.

Question 17

An English student who excels at analyzing the themes of a play
A) will also excel at analyzing political events.
B) can apply her formal operational abilities to mathematics problems.
C) may not be especially good at formal operational tasks in another subject area.
D) simultaneously develops formal operations that can be applied to academic tasks, but not real-world problems.

Accepted Answer

Analyzing themes in a play requires the ability to think abstractly and make connections between different ideas, which are skills associated with formal operational thinking. However, this does not necessarily translate to all other subject areas or real-world tasks. Exceling in one area does not guarantee success in another.

Question 18

A person in Piaget's formal operational stage
A) can come up with general logical rules through internal reflection.
B) is able to use inductive reasoning for the first time.
C) can only "operate on reality."
D) has just learned that hypotheses must be confirmed by appropriate evidence.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's formal operational stage is marked by the ability to form abstract concepts and to reason logically. Individuals in this stage are able to think abstractly, create hypotheses, and use deductive reasoning to solve problems. They are also able to generate general logical rules through internal reflection. Therefore, option A is the correct choice. Option B is incorrect because individuals at this stage use deductive rather than inductive reasoning. Option C is incorrect because individuals at this stage can operate on hypothetical situations and abstract concepts as well as reality. Option D is incorrect because individuals in this stage typically have already developed an understanding of the importance of evidence in supporting hypotheses.

Question 19

Taking college courses
A) has no measurable impact on formal operational reasoning.
B) leads to improvements in formal operational reasoning on all kinds of tasks.
C) improves formal operational reasoning on tasks related to course content.
D) improves propositional thought but not hypothetico-deductive reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that college courses can improve formal operational reasoning, but the improvement is more likely to be seen on tasks related to the course content rather than all kinds of tasks. So, choice C is the best answer as it states that college courses improve formal operational reasoning related to course content.

Question 20

Twelve-year-old Alicia hears the following: "A spoon is something that can be used to stir. Suppose something is not a spoon. Can it be used to stir?" Alicia will
A) say that she needs to see the object in question.
B) be able to reason correctly after hearing the statement.
C) say "no."
D) say "only if it is a fork."

Accepted Answer

Alicia will be able to reason correctly after hearing the statement. The statement is a conditional statement, and Alicia can use her knowledge of conditional statements to reason correctly.

Quiz 15: Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Lourdes is capable of hypothetico-deductive reasoning. When faced with a problem, which of the following will she do first?

The ________ of propositional reasoning can be explained as the understanding that the accuracy of conclusions drawn from premises rests on the rules of logic, not on real-world confirmation.

The teacher says, "If mice are bigger than cats, and cats are bigger than elephants, then mice are bigger than elephants." This statement is likely to be judged

In watching a concrete operational child and a formal operational adolescent solve the pendulum problem, what difference would be evident?

For adolescents, propositional thought

Marcus is able to evaluate the logic of verbal statements without making reference to real-world circumstances. Marcus is engaging in

In trying to solve the pendulum problem, formal operational adolescents usually

Six-year-old children can understand that hypotheses must be confirmed by the appropriate evidence, and they can sort out evidence concerning ________ variable(s) .

Bryan hears the following statement: "Either the train is moving or it is not moving." If Bryan is in the formal operational stage, he will say that

Research into the development of formal operational tasks among peasants in tribal and village societies found that

Many college students and adults are not fully formal operational because

In biology class, Zia had to determine which of two fertilizers was best for growing African violets. She tested not just for type of fertilizer but also for its concentration and frequency of use. Zia used

School-age children have difficulty drawing accurate conclusions from propositional statements because they

Veronique can think abstractly about things she cannot perceive concretely. She is in Piaget's ________ stage.

One reason that adolescents and adults do not always engage in formal operational thinking is that they

An English student who excels at analyzing the themes of a play

A person in Piaget's formal operational stage

Taking college courses

Twelve-year-old Alicia hears the following: "A spoon is something that can be used to stir. Suppose something is not a spoon. Can it be used to stir?" Alicia will