Question 1

Suppose that 3-year-old Syrah becomes quite upset when her mom dresses up in a witch costume on Halloween.According to Piaget, the lack of which of the following cognitive processes caused Syrah to become upset?

Accepted Answer

At 3 years old, children like Syrah are in Piaget's preoperational stage of cognitive development. During this stage, they often struggle with the appearance/reality distinction, meaning they have difficulty understanding that an object can appear one way but be something else in reality. In this case, Syrah becomes upset because she cannot distinguish between her mom's real identity and her appearance as a witch.

Question 2

According to Baron-Cohen's research, what is the source of the difficulties that children with autistic disorder have with understanding others' thoughts?

Accepted Answer

Baron-Cohen's research suggests that children with autistic disorder struggle with understanding others' thoughts because they lack the theory-of-mind module (ToMM), which is crucial for empathy and understanding that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one's own.

Question 3

One criticism of Piaget is that he treated children as if they were scientists working in isolation.This criticism relates to which aspect of Piaget's theory?

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory emphasizes that children learn about the world through their own explorations and discoveries, suggesting a self-directed approach. Critics argue that this overlooks the role of social interaction and cultural context in cognitive development.

Question 4

Gerald's dad is upset over some bad news and starts to cry.Five-year-old Gerald quickly brings over his favourite teddy bear for his dad to hold and tells his dad that he will feel better if he hugs "teddy." What Piagetian concept does this child-parent interaction illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Gerald's action demonstrates egocentrism because he assumes his dad will be comforted by the same thing that comforts him (his teddy bear), not recognizing that different people have different needs and perspectives.

Question 5

Which of the following statements below describes Baillargeon's concept of explanation-based learning (EBL)?

Accepted Answer

Baillargeon's concept of explanation-based learning (EBL) suggests that infants can learn about the properties of objects and the rules governing them from a very small sample of events, demonstrating an early form of intuitive physics.

Question 6

Which statement best summarizes the results of Lisa Freund's studies of children's performance on a sorting task when they could practise with and without their mothers' assistance?

Accepted Answer

Children who practised with their mothers showed increased performance at test under all conditions, indicating the positive impact of maternal assistance on learning and performance in the task.

Question 7

According to Piaget, what is the hallmark of thinking during the preoperational stage of development?

Accepted Answer

During the preoperational stage, which typically occurs from ages 2 to 7, children develop symbolic functions, allowing them to use symbols, words, or objects to represent something that is not physically present. This is a key feature of thinking in this stage according to Piaget.

Question 8

Piaget believed that intellectual development occurs in a fixed sequence.Which factor(s) did he base this belief on?

Accepted Answer

Biological maturation is the primary factor on which Piaget based his belief that intellectual development occurs in a fixed sequence.

Question 9

Which statement best summarizes Piaget's view as to why children often hold erroneous explanations for real-world events?

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that children actively construct their understanding of the world through their experiences, leading them to create their own explanations for how things work, which can sometimes be erroneous.

Question 10

According to Vygotsky, what does the term scaffolding refer to?

Accepted Answer

Scaffolding, according to Vygotsky, refers to the support given by a teacher or more knowledgeable other that helps a learner accomplish a task they would not be able to complete independently. This support is gradually removed as the learner becomes more competent.

Question 11

Which statement best summarizes the position of "theory" theorists regarding infant cognition?

Accepted Answer

Theory theorists propose that infants have innate cognitive structures that allow them to generate theories about how the world works, integrating both innate mechanisms and learning through experience. This approach combines elements of nativism (innate knowledge) and constructivism (knowledge constructed through interaction with the environment).

Question 12

According to Piaget, the end of the sensorimotor period is marked by the achievement of which of the following processes?

Accepted Answer

Mental representation marks the end of the sensorimotor period according to Piaget, as it signifies the beginning of symbolic thought, allowing children to think about objects and events without their physical presence.

Question 13

Ekta is 6 months old, and her grandfather just bought her a new toy that squeaks when she presses it.She loves the new sound that she has discovered, and she makes the toy squeak over and over again.Ekta's behaviour is characteristic of which stage of cognitive development?

Accepted Answer

Ekta's behavior is characteristic of the secondary circular reaction stage of cognitive development. This stage occurs roughly between the ages of 4 and 8 months. During this period, infants become more focused on the world around them and begin to intentionally repeat actions that produce desirable outcomes, such as sounds or movements. In this case, Ekta repeatedly presses the toy to hear the squeak, demonstrating her enjoyment and intentional repetition of an action for the outcome it produces.

Question 14

According to Piaget, when does the formal operational period of development occur?

Accepted Answer

The formal operational period, according to Piaget, starts from age 11 and continues through adulthood. This stage is characterized by the ability to think abstractly and reason logically.

Question 15

Daniel is 3 months old and he loves to suck his thumb.He does it over and over again, every chance he gets.Daniel's behaviour is characteristic of which stage of cognitive development?

Accepted Answer

Daniel's behavior is characteristic of the primary circular reactions stage, which occurs from about 1 to 4 months of age. In this stage, infants repeat pleasurable actions centered on their own body, such as thumb sucking.

Question 16

Which statement best summarizes the research findings of Pratt and colleagues regarding how children fared when their parents adjusted their support during a learning situation according to the child's level of expertise?

Accepted Answer

Pratt and colleagues found that when parents adjusted their support to match their child's level of expertise in a learning situation (a practice known as scaffolding), the children were more successful. This approach allows children to build on their existing knowledge and skills with the right level of challenge and support, enhancing their learning outcomes.

Question 17

According to the research of Baron-Cohen and colleagues, what are children with autistic disorder likely to show?

Accepted Answer

Children with autistic disorder are likely to show "mindblindness," which refers to difficulties in understanding and attributing mental states to themselves and others, a concept central to Theory of Mind (ToM).

Question 18

Fourteen-year-old Trevor thought all he needed to do to earn an A was to show up for class and pay attention.In his first year of high school he got Cs in all his classes because he didn't study enough.The next year he studied almost every evening after school.What does the change in Trevor's understanding of what was necessary to succeed in school illustrate?

Accepted Answer

The change in Trevor's understanding illustrates accommodation, which is when an individual adjusts their schemas (mental models) in response to new information or experiences. In this case, Trevor changed his approach to studying after realizing that merely attending class was not enough to achieve high grades.

Question 19

Suppose that a child does not search for a toy that is no longer visible, even though she likes the toy.How would Piaget account for this behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Piaget would interpret this behavior as a lack of understanding of object permanence, which is the awareness that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. This concept typically develops during the sensorimotor stage of a child's cognitive development.

Question 20

According to Piaget, why are infants' behaviours characterized by repetitive, circular acts?

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory suggests that infants engage in repetitive, circular acts because these actions produce interesting or pleasurable outcomes. This stage, known as the sensorimotor stage, emphasizes the importance of sensory experiences and motor actions in the development of cognitive abilities. Through repetition, infants learn about their environment and the effects of their actions.

Quiz 8: Cognitive Development: Piagets Theory, Cases Neo-Piagetian Theory, and Vygotskys Sociocultural Viewpoint