Question 1

While playing hide-and-seek with her brother,2-year-old Tammy hid her face behind a pillow,although she remained in plain view.This illustrates what limitation of preoperational thought?
A) animism
B) centration
C) egocentrism
D) irreversibility

Accepted Answer

Egocentrism is the tendency of young children to view the world solely from their own perspective and have difficulty seeing things from another person's point of view. Tammy's attempt at hiding by covering her own face demonstrates her inability to consider that her brother can still see her.

Question 2

_____________________ is part of the _________________ stage indicated by focusing,or centering,attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others.
A) Decentration; sensorimotor
B) Animism; preoperational
C) Centrism; preoperational
D) Irreversibility; sensorimotor

Accepted Answer

Centrism is part of the preoperational stage, indicated by focusing or centering attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others. Decentration is the opposite of centrism, and refers to the ability to focus on multiple characteristics and perspectives. Animism and irreversibility are also characteristics of the preoperational stage, but they do not relate directly to the concept of focusing attention.

Question 3

The focusing of attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others is called
A) animism.
B) centration.
C) egocentrism.
D) irreversibility.

Accepted Answer

The focusing of attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others is called centration. Animism refers to the belief that inanimate objects have feelings and intentions. Egocentrism is the inability to distinguish between one's own perspective and the perspective of others. Irreversibility is the belief that once a change has occurred, it cannot be undone.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a characteristic of preoperational thought?
A) intuitive reasoning
B) egocentrism
C) symbolic thought
D) conservation skills

Accepted Answer

Conservation skills are not a characteristic of preoperational thought. Preoperational children lack the ability to understand conservation, which is the idea that changing the appearance of an object does not change its basic properties, such as its quantity or volume. Therefore, they are unable to understand that two glasses with the same amount of water still have the same amount of water even if one glass is made taller or wider than the other.

Question 5

What type of reasoning characterizes the concrete-operational thinker?
A) logical
B) intuitive
C) abstract
D) hypothetical

Accepted Answer

Concrete-operational thinkers are characterized by their ability to use logical thinking in dealing with problems and situations, especially those that are tangible or can be manipulated physically. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11 years old, according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Question 6

George is presented with two identical beakers,and then watches as the experimenter pours liquid from one beaker into a third beaker,which is taller and thinner than the first two.This is a test to see if George has achieved
A) conservation.
B) seriation.
C) classification.
D) object permanence.

Accepted Answer

The test described in the scenario is a classic conservation task, which is used to test a child's ability to understand that certain properties of objects (such as the quantity of liquid in a container) can remain the same even when their appearance or arrangement changes. In this case, if George has achieved conservation, he will understand that the amount of liquid in the two beakers and the third beaker is the same, despite the different shape of the container. This is a key developmental milestone that typically emerges around age 6-7, according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Question 7

Three-year-old Mary says,"The door made me mad; it pushed my thumb." She is demonstrating
A) animism.
B) centration.
C) egocentrism.
D) irreversibility.

Accepted Answer

Mary is demonstrating animism, which is the belief that inanimate objects have feelings and intentions, and is common in preoperational stage children.

Question 8

The acquisition of reversibility is a cornerstone of which stage of Piagetian development?
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) concrete operational
D) formal-operational

Accepted Answer

The acquisition of reversibility is a key feature of concrete operational stage in Piagetian development. In this stage, children develop the ability to perform mental operations on physical objects, including the ability to mentally reverse an action. They begin to understand that certain physical properties may change while others remain constant.

Question 9

Who is best identified as being in the intuitive stage of development?
A) Dan,who can remember a list of five shopping items
B) Sue,who keeps annoying her parents by asking,"How come...?"
C) Keith,who hit his sister,yet is only worried about what is going to happen to him
D) Missy,whose imaginary friend helps her deal with traumatic events

Accepted Answer

Sue's constant questioning shows a curious and imaginative mindset, which is characteristic of the intuitive stage of development. The other options do not demonstrate such a mindset. Dan's ability to remember a list of items is a cognitive ability that is not necessarily linked to a developmental stage. Keith's selfish and insensitive behavior suggests he may be in a earlier stage of development, where social awareness and empathy are still developing. Missy's use of an imaginary friend may indicate a coping mechanism for dealing with trauma, but it does not necessarily suggest a specific stage of development.

Question 10

Conservation and classification are accomplishments of what Piagetian stage of cognitive development?
A) preoperational stage
B) sensorimotor stage
C) concrete-operational stage
D) formal-operational stage

Accepted Answer

Conservation and classification are typically achieved during the concrete-operational stage of cognitive development, which occurs between the ages of 7 and 11. During this stage, children become proficient in cognitive tasks that involve logical thinking, operations, and conservation of mass, volume, and weight. In contrast, children in the preoperational stage (ages 2-7) have not yet developed logical thinking skills and may struggle with conservation tasks. Children in the sensorimotor stage (ages 0-2) are still learning to coordinate their senses and motor skills, and are not yet capable of abstract thinking. Finally, children in the formal-operational stage (ages 11-16 and beyond) begin to develop skills for abstract thinking and hypothetical reasoning, but conservation and classification skills are typically mastered during the concrete-operational stage.

Question 11

Four-year-old Christopher begins to use primitive reasoning and wants to know the answers to all sorts of questions.He is in what substage of preoperational thought?
A) intuitive thought
B) symbolic function
C) internalization of schemes
D) coordination of secondary circular reactions

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children between the ages of 4 to 7 are in the preoperational stage which is divided into two sub-stages. The first sub-stage is the preconceptual substage where children start to use symbols (such as language) to represent objects and events in the world around them. The second sub-stage is the intuitive thought substage, where children begin to use primitive reasoning and ask many questions to understand the world around them. Therefore, Christopher is in the intuitive thought substage of preoperational thought.

Question 12

According to Piaget,passing what test is a sign that children are at the concrete-operational stage?
A) the three mountains task
B) the conservation of liquid task
C) the seriation task
D) the symbolic function task

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, passing the conservation of liquid task is a sign that children are at the concrete-operational stage. This task involves showing children the same amount of liquid in two different containers of different shapes and asking them whether the amount of liquid is the same or different. Children at the preoperational stage often say the amount is different because the containers look different. In contrast, children at the concrete-operational stage understand that the amount of liquid is the same regardless of the container shape.

Question 13

Two sticks are aligned in front of the child.The child agrees that they are the same length.The experimenter moves one stick to the right,then asks the child if they are equal in length.This is a task for conservation of
A) matter.
B) area.
C) volume.
D) length.

Accepted Answer

This task is designed to test the child's understanding of the conservation of length, as the experimenter moves one stick away, but the length of the stick itself does not change. The other options (matter, area, and volume) are not relevant to this task.

Question 14

While playing with some candy,3-year-old Ruth places five chocolate pieces in one row and another five pieces in an identical row.She then accidentally pushes the end piece of candy in row one away from the rest.After staring at this new "longer" row,she decides to eat it because,"it now has more candy." Ruth's thinking is explained as the result of the inability to conserve
A) area.
B) length.
C) number.
D) volume.

Accepted Answer

Ruth's thinking is explained as the result of the inability to conserve the number of candy. She believed that the row with the pushed-out candy had more pieces than the other row, even though both had the same number of pieces. This inability to understand that the quantity of an object does not change even if the arrangement or appearance changes is called conservation. Ruth hasn't developed this concept yet, which is typical of a child her age.

Question 15

When 6-year-old Megan spills a glass of pop,she looks down and realizes that the seemingly huge amount of liquid would actually fit back into her small glass.Megan's conclusion provides an excellent example of
A) reversibility.
B) sensorimotor logic.
C) classification.
D) hypothetical.

Accepted Answer

Reversibility is the ability to mentally undo an action or operation, which Megan demonstrates by realizing that the spilled pop can be poured back into the glass. This is a key aspect of Piaget's theory of cognitive development in the preoperational stage, which Megan is in at the age of 6. The other answer choices do not accurately describe Megan's thinking in this situation.

Question 16

When asked to discuss weather,4-year-old Willard says,"Rain happens whenever clouds get sad and cry." This statement provides an example of
A) animism.
B) egocentrism.
C) centration.
D) object permanence.

Accepted Answer

Willard's statement shows animism, as he is attributing human emotions and actions to natural phenomena (clouds getting sad and crying).

Question 17

Whose entire conversational interaction with an adult would likely consist of the question "Why?"
A) a 2- or 3-year-old
B) a 4- or 5-year-old
C) a 7- or 8-year-old
D) a 9-year-old

Accepted Answer

The answer of Whose entire conversational interaction with an adult...

Question 18

All but which one of the following relates to Piaget's intuitive thought stage?
A) Tommy,who is 9 years old and is starting to develop his own ideas about the world
B) Mary,who is 4 years old,has simple ideas,and is not very good at thinking things out
C) Joan,who is 5 years old and has difficulty understanding events she knows are taking place but which she cannot see
D) Rao,who is 6 years old and fantasizes ideas that have little resemblance to reality

Accepted Answer

Piaget's intuitive thought stage typically occurs between the ages of 2 and 7. Choices B, C, and D describe behaviors and characteristics of children within this age range, showing limited logical reasoning and a focus on intuition and imagination. Choice A, describing Tommy who is 9 years old, does not fit into this stage as children of this age are usually transitioning into the concrete operational stage, where they develop more logical and organized ways of thinking.

Question 19

Which of the following illustrates the Piagetian concept of horizontal décalage?
A) A child attains object permanence.
B) A child acquires the ability to conserve number before being able to conserve volume.
C) A child is able to mentally reverse actions.
D) A child is able to engage in symbolic function.

Accepted Answer

Horizontal décalage refers to the fact that, within each stage of development, cognitive abilities do not develop uniformly. Rather, abilities develop gradually and may first appear in relation to one type of task or problem before emerging in relation to other tasks. In this example, acquiring the ability to conserve number before being able to conserve volume illustrates this concept.

Question 20

In Piaget's three mountains task,a preoperational child is asked to select from a series of photos the one photo that most accurately reflects the view the doll is seeing.Children in the preoperational stage are most likely to pick
A) the doll's view.
B) their view from where they are sitting.
C) the view from the mountains.
D) the view opposite from where the child is sitting.

Accepted Answer

Children in the preoperational stage are focused on their own perspective and have difficulty understanding someone else's point of view. Therefore, they are most likely to select the view from where they are sitting, rather than from the doll's perspective or the views from the mountains or opposite side.

Quiz 6: Cognitive Developmental Approaches

While playing hide-and-seek with her brother,2-year-old Tammy hid her face behind a pillow,although she remained in plain view.This illustrates what limitation of preoperational thought?

_____ is part of the _ stage indicated by focusing,or centering,attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others.

The focusing of attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others is called

Which of the following is not a characteristic of preoperational thought?

What type of reasoning characterizes the concrete-operational thinker?

George is presented with two identical beakers,and then watches as the experimenter pours liquid from one beaker into a third beaker,which is taller and thinner than the first two.This is a test to see if George has achieved

Three-year-old Mary says,"The door made me mad; it pushed my thumb." She is demonstrating

The acquisition of reversibility is a cornerstone of which stage of Piagetian development?

Who is best identified as being in the intuitive stage of development?

Conservation and classification are accomplishments of what Piagetian stage of cognitive development?

Four-year-old Christopher begins to use primitive reasoning and wants to know the answers to all sorts of questions.He is in what substage of preoperational thought?

According to Piaget,passing what test is a sign that children are at the concrete-operational stage?

Two sticks are aligned in front of the child.The child agrees that they are the same length.The experimenter moves one stick to the right,then asks the child if they are equal in length.This is a task for conservation of

When 6-year-old Megan spills a glass of pop,she looks down and realizes that the seemingly huge amount of liquid would actually fit back into her small glass.Megan's conclusion provides an excellent example of

When asked to discuss weather,4-year-old Willard says,"Rain happens whenever clouds get sad and cry." This statement provides an example of

Whose entire conversational interaction with an adult would likely consist of the question "Why?"

All but which one of the following relates to Piaget's intuitive thought stage?

Which of the following illustrates the Piagetian concept of horizontal décalage?

In Piaget's three mountains task,a preoperational child is asked to select from a series of photos the one photo that most accurately reflects the view the doll is seeing.Children in the preoperational stage are most likely to pick