Question 1

What of the following sayings best conveys a child's thinking before the notion of object permanence is acquired?
A)"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
B)"A penny saved is a penny earned."
C)"A stitch in time saves nine."
D)"Out of sight,out of mind."

Accepted Answer

The saying "Out of sight, out of mind" best conveys a child's thinking before the notion of object permanence is acquired. This is because young children do not yet understand that objects continue to exist even when they are not in view. Therefore, if an object is out of sight, it is also out of mind for the child.

Question 2

Janie was having some difficulty deciding how to organize her defense for the debate competition.She prepared several hypothetical arguments that her opponents might raise,and how she might reply.What cognitive stage of Piaget's theory does this account best illustrate?
A)Concrete operations
B)Formal operations
C)Preoperational thought
D)Sensorimotor

Accepted Answer

Janie's ability to generate hypothetical arguments and plan her responses demonstrates the capacity for abstract reasoning and hypothesis testing that is characteristic of the formal operations stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Question 3

In the sensorimotor stage of development,a child begins to develop
A)goal-directed actions.
B)mental operations.
C)preoperational thought.
D)semiotic functions.

Accepted Answer

In the sensorimotor stage of development, which lasts from birth to about 2 years old, children learn to coordinate their senses (sight, touch, taste, etc.) with their movements. They also develop the ability to form mental representations of objects and events, which allows them to engage in goal-directed actions. Therefore, the best choice is A) goal-directed actions. Choices B), C), and D) do not accurately describe the abilities that develop during the sensorimotor stage.

Question 4

When we try a particular strategy and it does not work,the discomfort we experience is called
A)assimilation.
B)centration.
C)disequilibrium.
D)non-adaptation.

Accepted Answer

When we try a particular strategy and it does not work, we experience a sense of discomfort or confusion. This discomfort is called disequilibrium in Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Assimilation refers to the process of incorporating new information into existing schemas, while centration refers to a child's tendency to focus on only one aspect of a situation and ignore other relevant factors. Non-adaptation is not a term used in Piaget's theory.

Question 5

In Piaget's theory,an understanding of object permanence is acquired during what period of development?
A)Early preoperations
B)Operations
C)Late preoperations
D)Sensorimotor

Accepted Answer

Object permanence, which is the ability to understand that objects exist even when they are not perceived, is acquired during the sensorimotor stage of development according to Piaget's theory. This stage typically lasts from birth to about 2 years old.

Question 6

The best way to determine what cognitive stage a person has reached is by
A)interpreting the person's scores on a mental ability test.
B)knowing the person's age.
C)knowing the person's rate of development.
D)observing how the person solves problems.

Accepted Answer

Observing how the person solves problems is a better way to determine what cognitive stage a person has reached as it provides specific information on the person's thought processes, problem-solving abilities, and decision-making skills. It helps in identifying the person's strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement. Mental ability tests and age-based categorizations can be misleading as they do not take into account individual differences and variations in development.

Question 7

A teacher pours juice from a larger glass into two tiny glasses,and the child beams,happy now that he has "more juice." What cognitive stage (Piaget's theory)does the account best illustrate?
A)Concrete operations
B)Formal operational thought
C)Preoperational thought
D)Sensorimotor

Accepted Answer

This account best illustrates preoperational thought, which is the cognitive stage in Piaget's theory where a child is still learning to understand conservation, or that the amount of liquid is the same even if it is poured into different sized glasses. The child's belief that they have more juice in two tiny glasses than in one large glass shows a lack of understanding of conservation.

Question 8

Billy refuses to drink his orange juice from the 1/2 full glass that his mother gives to him.He wants her to pour the juice into his favorite cup and watches his mother fill it to the brim.Billy likes his cup better because he gets more juice in it.With what cognitive concept in Piaget's theory is Billy having trouble?
A)Accommodation
B)Assimilation
C)Conservation
D)Semiotic function

Accepted Answer

Billy is having trouble with the concept of conservation, which is the understanding that the amount of a substance remains the same even when it changes shape or appearance. He thinks that the amount of juice he gets is determined by the size of the cup, rather than the actual amount of juice in the glass.

Question 9

What is the hallmark of Piaget's stage of formal operations?
A)Semiotic function
B)Hypothetical-deductive reasoning
C)Organized thinking of dependent elements
D)Reversible thinking

Accepted Answer

The hallmark of Piaget's stage of formal operations is hypothetical-deductive reasoning, which involves the ability to systematically generate and test hypotheses using logical reasoning. This allows individuals to think abstractly and hypothetically about the future and to imagine alternative possibilities. The other options, semiotic function, organized thinking of dependent elements, and reversible thinking are characteristic of earlier stages of Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Question 10

David has just purchased a car and is intensely interested in it.When the car has engine trouble,he is able systematically to locate the problem.What cognitive stage of Piaget's theory does this situation best illustrate?
A)Concrete operations
B)Formal operations
C)Preoperational thought
D)Sensorimotor

Accepted Answer

The formal operations stage, according to Piaget, involves the ability to think abstractly, logically, and systematically, which is demonstrated by David's ability to systematically locate the problem with the car's engine.

Question 11

After stringing beads from a large necklace onto a smaller empty string,a child states that there are now more beads on the small string than there were on the larger string.What cognitive concept (Piaget's theory)does this behavior best illustrate?
A)Accommodation
B)Assimilation
C)Conservation
D)Equilibration

Accepted Answer

This behavior illustrates a lack of understanding of conservation, which is the cognitive concept where a child does not yet understand that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or arrangement.

Question 12

Corinne has mastered this type of problem: "If the white house is bigger than the blue house,and the blue house is bigger than the red house,is the white house bigger or smaller than the red house?" What stage of Piaget's cognitive theory does this situation best illustrate?
A)Concrete operations
B)Formal operations
C)Preoperational thought
D)Sensorimotor

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes a logical reasoning problem that falls under concrete operations, which is the stage in which children develop the ability to think logically about physical objects and understand the relationships between them. In this case, Corinne is able to apply her understanding of relative size to infer that the white house is, in fact, bigger than the red house.

Question 13

In his first game of hide-and-seek,Andy covers his eyes so that his friends cannot see him.His thinking can be described as
A)decentered.
B)egocentric.
C)schematic.
D)seriation.

Accepted Answer

Andy's thinking is egocentric because he believes that just because he cannot see his friends, they cannot see him. This is a common characteristic of egocentric thinking in young children.

Question 14

A preoperational child's belief that a tall,narrow glass contains more liquid than a short,wide glass is probably due to difficulties in
A)decentering.
B)egocentrism.
C)serration.
D)object permanence.

Accepted Answer

The preoperational stage is marked by egocentrism and difficulties in conservation, which includes decentering. Decentering refers to the ability to focus on multiple aspects of a situation, and in this case, recognizing that the width and height of a glass do not affect the amount of liquid it holds. Therefore, a preoperational child's belief that a tall, narrow glass contains more liquid than a short, wide glass is probably due to difficulties in decentering.

Question 15

When Mary returned from the high-school prom,she complained,"Everyone hated my dress!" What specific concept does this account best illustrate?
A)Adolescent egocentrism
B)Interpsychological action
C)Reversible thinking
D)Semiotic function

Accepted Answer

Mary's statement that "everyone hated my dress" shows that she is focused on her own perspective and assumes that everyone else shares her viewpoint. This is a common trait of adolescent egocentrism, where teenagers tend to believe that their experiences and feelings are unique and that others are judging them harshly.

Question 16

According to Piaget,the process of searching for a balance between cognitive schemas and environmental information is called
A)accommodation.
B)adaptation.
C)assimilation.
D)equilibration.

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that children actively construct their understanding of the world through a process of adaptation, which involves two complementary processes: assimilation and accommodation. However, the ultimate goal of cognitive development is to achieve balance or equilibrium between these two processes, which Piaget termed equilibration. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Question 17

According to Piaget,people pass through the four stages of cognitive development
A)at the same levels of competence.
B)at the same rates,adjusted for intelligence.
C)in specifically determined ages.
D)in the same sequence.

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that individuals progress through the stages of cognitive development in a specific sequence, starting with the sensorimotor stage, followed by the preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, and finally the formal operational stage. While there may be individual differences in the timing and rate of progression through the stages, the sequence is believed to be universal. Therefore, choice D is the best answer.

Question 18

Perry is able to solve hypothetical problems by mentally working through a set of possibilities.What characteristic of cognitive development does Perry illustrate?
A)Compensatory reasoning
B)Inductive thinking
C)Organized thinking
D)Reversible reasoning

Accepted Answer

Perry's ability to solve hypothetical problems by mentally working through a set of possibilities illustrates organized thinking, which is the ability to think in a logical and systematic way.

Question 19

Michelle covers her own eyes,because she thinks her friends will not see her when playing a game of hide-and-seek.What stage of Piaget's cognitive theory does this account best illustrate?
A)Concrete operations
B)Formal operations
C)Preoperational thought
D)Sensorimotor

Accepted Answer

The answer of Michelle covers her own eyes,because she thinks...

Question 20

Nathan is shown two balls of clay that he identifies as equal in quantity.When one of the balls is then rolled into a sausage,Nathan says that piece (i.e. ,sausage)now has more clay.In what stage of development is he likely to be?
A)Concrete operations
B)Goal-directed operations
C)Preoperational thought
D)Sensorimotor

Accepted Answer

Nathan's understanding that the rolled-out clay has more quantity indicates that he is in the preoperational thought stage, which is characterized by a limited ability to comprehend conservation of quantity.

Quiz 2: Cognitive Development

What of the following sayings best conveys a child's thinking before the notion of object permanence is acquired?

Janie was having some difficulty deciding how to organize her defense for the debate competition.She prepared several hypothetical arguments that her opponents might raise,and how she might reply.What cognitive stage of Piaget's theory does this account best illustrate?

In the sensorimotor stage of development,a child begins to develop

When we try a particular strategy and it does not work,the discomfort we experience is called

In Piaget's theory,an understanding of object permanence is acquired during what period of development?

The best way to determine what cognitive stage a person has reached is by

A teacher pours juice from a larger glass into two tiny glasses,and the child beams,happy now that he has "more juice." What cognitive stage (Piaget's theory) does the account best illustrate?

What is the hallmark of Piaget's stage of formal operations?

David has just purchased a car and is intensely interested in it.When the car has engine trouble,he is able systematically to locate the problem.What cognitive stage of Piaget's theory does this situation best illustrate?

After stringing beads from a large necklace onto a smaller empty string,a child states that there are now more beads on the small string than there were on the larger string.What cognitive concept (Piaget's theory) does this behavior best illustrate?

Corinne has mastered this type of problem: "If the white house is bigger than the blue house,and the blue house is bigger than the red house,is the white house bigger or smaller than the red house?" What stage of Piaget's cognitive theory does this situation best illustrate?

In his first game of hide-and-seek,Andy covers his eyes so that his friends cannot see him.His thinking can be described as

A preoperational child's belief that a tall,narrow glass contains more liquid than a short,wide glass is probably due to difficulties in

When Mary returned from the high-school prom,she complained,"Everyone hated my dress!" What specific concept does this account best illustrate?

According to Piaget,the process of searching for a balance between cognitive schemas and environmental information is called

According to Piaget,people pass through the four stages of cognitive development

Perry is able to solve hypothetical problems by mentally working through a set of possibilities.What characteristic of cognitive development does Perry illustrate?

Michelle covers her own eyes,because she thinks her friends will not see her when playing a game of hide-and-seek.What stage of Piaget's cognitive theory does this account best illustrate?

Nathan is shown two balls of clay that he identifies as equal in quantity.When one of the balls is then rolled into a sausage,Nathan says that piece (i.e. ,sausage) now has more clay.In what stage of development is he likely to be?