Question 1

According to Piaget, which statement is true regarding stages of thinking?
A) Sensorimotor and preoperational thinking must be completed before the concrete operational stage, but not before formal operational thinking.
B) Sensorimotor and preoperational thinking must be completed before the formal operational stage, but not before concrete operational thinking.
C) Thinking alternates between stages throughout development.
D) All stages must be accomplished in the correct order.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development states that all stages must be accomplished in a specific order: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.

Question 2

When first attempting to learn English as a second language, Olga spends a great deal of time converting similar English sounds into Russian equivalents. Later, she spends more time generating new, non-Russian language ideas. Piaget would describe this change as involving
A) equilibration.
B) the one-to-one principle.
C) habituation.
D) implosion.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development emphasizes the concept of equilibration, which is the process of balancing assimilation and accommodation. In this scenario, Olga is initially focused on accommodating English sounds to her existing Russian language schema. However, as she becomes more proficient in English, she is able to assimilate new ideas and concepts into her cognitive framework, leading to a greater sense of equilibration.

Question 3

Bob is a normally developing 18-month-old. According to Piaget, Bob is most likely in the ____ period of cognitive development.
A) formal operational
B) sensorimotor
C) concrete operational
D) preoperational

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's stages of cognitive development, the sensorimotor period occurs from birth to 2 years old. This is when babies learn about the world through their senses and actions on objects in their environment. Therefore, Bob being 18-month-old falls under this category.

Question 4

What is the correct sequence (from first to last) of Piaget's stages of cognitive development?
A) Preoperational, concrete operational, sensorimotor, formal operational
B) Sensorimotor, preoperational, formal operational, concrete operational
C) Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational
D) Preoperational, sensorimotor, formal operational, concrete operational

Accepted Answer

Piaget's stages of cognitive development occur in the following order: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational. Choice C is the only option that has the correct sequence in this order.

Question 5

Between early and later childhood, schemes tend to have more ______ properties.
A) functional
B) conceptual
C) object-based
D) abstract

Accepted Answer

The answer of Between early and later childhood, schemes tend...

Question 6

Piaget saw equilibration as a balance between
A) primary and secondary circular reactions.
B) assimilation and accommodation.
C) thought and language.
D) social and cognitive skills.

Accepted Answer

Equilibration refers to the process of balancing assimilation (fitting new information into existing mental schemas) and accommodation (changing existing mental schemas to fit new information). Piaget believed that this process leads to cognitive development and the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.

Question 7

In order to overcome a state of disequilibrium, a child must
A) engage in hypothetical deductive reasoning.
B) become more egocentric.
C) reorganize his or her schemes.
D) develop a strong orienting response.

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, when a child encounters new information that is not consistent with their existing mental frameworks (schemes), they experience a state of disequilibrium. To overcome this state, the child must reorganize their existing schemas to accommodate the new information, which is called accommodation. This allows the child to return to a state of equilibrium, where their mental frameworks are once again consistent with their experiences. So the correct answer is C - the child must reorganize his or her schemes.

Question 8

Nolan has a scheme for throwing baseballs that he can apply successfully to throwing small rocks or other types of balls. This successful application would best be described as
A) assimilation.
B) animism.
C) accommodation.
D) egocentrism.

Accepted Answer

Assimilation occurs when new experiences are incorporated into existing schemas. Nolan applying his baseball-throwing scheme to throwing small rocks or other types of balls is an example of assimilation, as he is using his existing knowledge in a new context without changing the underlying schema.

Question 9

The phrase "out of sight, out of mind" best exemplifies the Piagetian concept of
A) tertiary circular reaction.
B) the one-to-one principle.
C) fast mapping.
D) object permanence.

Accepted Answer

The Piagetian concept of object permanence refers to the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched. The phrase "out of sight, out of mind" implies that people tend to forget about things or people that are not easily visible or present, which is related to the development of object permanence in infants. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 10

Sylvester has just learned how to pick up his cat named Chester, who likes to be picked up and does not put up any struggle. Later, Sylvester tries to pick up another cat named Thai, who scratches when held. The fact that Sylvester learns to leave Thai alone after he has been scratched provides a good example of
A) animism.
B) habituation.
C) centration.
D) accommodation.

Accepted Answer

The fact that Sylvester learns to modify his behavior after being scratched by Thai is an example of accommodation, which is when an individual adjusts their behavior or understanding of a situation based on new information or experiences. Sylvester had originally assumed that all cats would be like Chester and enjoy being held, but after being scratched by Thai, he accommodates his understanding and learns to leave Thai alone. This is different from habituation, which is when an individual becomes less responsive to a stimulus after repeated exposure. Animism and centration are not applicable to this scenario.

Question 11

Salvador has a scheme for drawing with a crayon that had to be changed in order to learn how to paint a picture with a brush. This adaptation is an example of
A) animism.
B) egocentrism.
C) assimilation.
D) accommodation.

Accepted Answer

Salvador's adaptation to painting with a brush involves changing his previous scheme for drawing with a crayon. This process of altering existing mental structures, or schemas, to accommodate new information or experiences is known as accommodation in Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Question 12

Piaget argued that the first reactions by newborns were
A) indicators of an innate understanding of appearance as reality.
B) abstract.
C) indicators of an innate understanding of object permanence.
D) reflexive.

Accepted Answer

Piaget argued that the first reactions by newborns were reflexive, meaning they were automatic reactions to stimulation rather than intentional or cognitive responses. Piaget believed that cognitive development began with simple reflexes and gradually progressed to more complex cognitive processes as the child interacted with the environment. He did not attribute innate understanding of appearance as reality or object permanence to newborns, but instead believed that these concepts were developed through the process of assimilation and accommodation as the child interacted with the environment.

Question 13

Mia likes to kick soccer balls. She has developed a mental structure for kicking that may be applied to different situations. This mental structure for kicking would best be described as
A) egocentrism.
B) a scheme.
C) an intonation.
D) an expressive style.

Accepted Answer

Mia's mental structure for kicking is best described as a scheme, which is a cognitive framework or organized pattern of thought that helps individuals understand and categorize information. Mia has developed a scheme that allows her to apply her knowledge of how to kick a soccer ball to different situations, such as kicking on different types of surfaces or in different weather conditions. Egocentrism refers to a limited perspective that is characteristic of young children, while intonation and expressive style are more related to language and communication.

Question 14

Piaget used the term ____ to describe the process by which new experiences are easily incorporated into existing schemes.
A) accommodation
B) scaffolding
C) assimilation
D) secondary

Accepted Answer

Piaget used the term assimilation to describe the process by which new experiences are easily incorporated into existing schemes. Accommodation refers to the process of modifying existing schemes in order to incorporate new experiences. Scaffolding is a term used in Vygotsky's theory of social development, and secondary is not a relevant term in Piaget's theory.

Question 15

According to Piaget, when a scheme is modified based on some experience, ____ has occurred.
A) assimilation
B) animism
C) accommodation
D) egocentrism

Accepted Answer

Accommodation occurs when a scheme is modified or adjusted to incorporate new information or experiences that do not fit with existing schemes. As a result of accommodation, individuals are able to expand and refine their cognitive structures.

Question 16

Six-month-old Teddy is playing with his favorite toy, a stuffed bear. Suddenly a blanket falls off the shelf and covers his bear. According to Piaget, Teddy would most likely
A) both reach for and search for the bear.
B) neither reach for nor search for the bear.
C) reach for but not search for the bear.
D) Search for but not reach for the bear.

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, infants under 8 months typically lack object permanence, meaning they do not understand that objects continue to exist when out of sight. Therefore, Teddy would neither reach for nor search for the bear.

Question 17

Dr. Eco has a strong belief that global warming is a theoretical myth. In recent years, however, the increased rate of polar ice cap melt has forced him to alter his theory, and he is now a strong advocate against greenhouse pollutants. A Piagetian would most likely describe Dr. Eco's theoretical conversion in terms of
A) the one-to-one principle.
B) overextension.
C) equilibration.
D) abstract thinking.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory emphasizes the concept of equilibration, which involves the process of adjusting one's understanding of reality based on new information or experiences. Dr. Eco's shift in belief about global warming suggests that he experienced cognitive disequilibrium, which prompted him to modify his existing beliefs in order to restore equilibrium. Therefore, the best choice is C.

Question 18

Piaget described a scheme as a psychological structure that
A) organizes experience.
B) is used in language but not thought.
C) we lose as we age.
D) is only found in those with a set of personal values.

Accepted Answer

Piaget described a scheme as a psychological structure that organizes experience. It acts as a pattern or framework for understanding and processing new information. It is important in cognitive development and learning.

Question 19

Piagetians believe that an average child would first demonstrate the onset of intentional behavior when he or she is approximately
A) 18 hours old.
B) 8 weeks old.
C) 8 months old.
D) 18 months old.

Accepted Answer

Piagetians believe that intentional behavior first emerges around 8 months of age, when infants begin to actively pursue goals and engage in purposeful actions to achieve them. Prior to this stage, infants are primarily engaged in reflexive and spontaneous behaviors.

Question 20

Baby Lee has just discovered that banging on a big pot produces a loud sound. He then decides to bang on a small pot to see what happens. A Piagetian would predict that such active experimentation with the environment would be most likely to first emerge in a child who is
A) 12 hours old.
B) 24 days old.
C) 12 months old.
D) 24 months old.

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, the stage of sensorimotor development (birth to 2 years old) is characterized by active experimentation with the environment. During this stage, babies learn through the process of trial and error, using their senses and motor skills to explore and manipulate objects in their environment. By 12 months old, babies have developed object permanence - the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight - and can use this knowledge to actively search for, and experiment with, objects. Therefore, it is most likely that Baby Lee's experimentation with pots and sound would emerge around 12 months old.

Quiz 4: The Emergence of Thought and Language: Cognitive Development in Infancy and Early Childhood

According to Piaget, which statement is true regarding stages of thinking?

When first attempting to learn English as a second language, Olga spends a great deal of time converting similar English sounds into Russian equivalents. Later, she spends more time generating new, non-Russian language ideas. Piaget would describe this change as involving

Bob is a normally developing 18-month-old. According to Piaget, Bob is most likely in the ____ period of cognitive development.

What is the correct sequence (from first to last) of Piaget's stages of cognitive development?

Between early and later childhood, schemes tend to have more ______ properties.

Piaget saw equilibration as a balance between

In order to overcome a state of disequilibrium, a child must

Nolan has a scheme for throwing baseballs that he can apply successfully to throwing small rocks or other types of balls. This successful application would best be described as

The phrase "out of sight, out of mind" best exemplifies the Piagetian concept of

Salvador has a scheme for drawing with a crayon that had to be changed in order to learn how to paint a picture with a brush. This adaptation is an example of

Piaget argued that the first reactions by newborns were

Mia likes to kick soccer balls. She has developed a mental structure for kicking that may be applied to different situations. This mental structure for kicking would best be described as

Piaget used the term ____ to describe the process by which new experiences are easily incorporated into existing schemes.

According to Piaget, when a scheme is modified based on some experience, ____ has occurred.

Six-month-old Teddy is playing with his favorite toy, a stuffed bear. Suddenly a blanket falls off the shelf and covers his bear. According to Piaget, Teddy would most likely

Piaget described a scheme as a psychological structure that

Piagetians believe that an average child would first demonstrate the onset of intentional behavior when he or she is approximately

Baby Lee has just discovered that banging on a big pot produces a loud sound. He then decides to bang on a small pot to see what happens. A Piagetian would predict that such active experimentation with the environment would be most likely to first emerge in a child who is