The classic conservation task developed by Piaget involves two short containers that contain equal amounts of liquid. While a child watches, the water from one container is poured into a tall, thin beaker. The child is asked which beaker holds more water, the short container or the tall container. Four-year-old Daniel answers the question incorrectly, while 7-year-old Emily is able to answer the question correctly. Why?
A)Daniel is in the preoperational stage, while Emily is in the concrete operational stage.
B)Girls progress through the stages of cognitive development earlier and faster than boys do.
C)Emily is in the formal operational stage, and Daniel is in the concrete operational stage.
D)Daniel is in the sensorimotor stage, and Emily is in the preoperational stage.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children in the preoperational stage (ages 2-7) have difficulty understanding conservation tasks because they focus on the perceptual features of objects (such as the height of the water in the containers) rather than the underlying quantity. In contrast, children in the concrete operational stage (ages 7-11) are able to solve conservation tasks because they are able to apply logical reasoning and understand the principle of conservation. Therefore, Daniel's incorrect answer suggests that he is in the preoperational stage, while Emily's correct answer suggests that she has progressed to the concrete operational stage. Choice B and D are not supported by Piaget's theory, and choice C is incorrect because the formal operational stage (beginning at age 11) is characterized by the ability to think abstractly, not by the ability to solve conservation tasks.

The Classic Conservation Task Developed by Piaget Involves Two Short