Piaget's theory of intellectual development

• object permanence

  Knowing that an object exists even when it cannot be seen.
• conservation

  Knowing that the quantity is the same even when the shape changes e.g., flat play-doh/a ball of play-doh.
• class inclusion

  Understanding categories but struggling to understand subsets.
• order of the stages

  -sensorimotor

  -per-operational

  -concrete operational

  -formal operational
• sensorimotor stage

  -ages 0-2

  -basic co-ordination skills

  -focus on physical objects

  -basic language skills

  -understand people are separate objects

  -get object permanence at 8 months old
• pre-operational stage

  -ages 2-7

  -are egocentric (3 mountains task)

  -lack logical/adult reasoning

  -fail tasks of conservation and class inclusion

  -can use language
• concrete operational stage

  -ages 7-11

  -have basic logic

  -pass tests of conservation and class inclusion

  -need objects for logical tasks

  -no abstract ideas
• formal operational stage

  -ages 11+

  -have full adult reasoning (abstract ideas - get less distracted by content and can make conclusions)

  -pass tests of conservation and class inclusion
• AO3

  Strength(s):

  -flexibility in ages of development. Prevents parents from feeling pressure when their children don't reach the stage at a certain age. Not socially sensitive. Ethical.

  -3 mountains study shows how people in the pre-operational stage are egocentric but people in the concrete operational stage are not. D: Hughes police man doll study contradicts this, children aged 3.5 could see from someone else's POV, decreases the validity of the 3 MS and characteristics of the stage. D: practical application: Hughes' study was a more realistic task for children, can make changes to the curriculum to help the children understand and progress. The stages have use.

  
  

  Weakness(es):

  -dubious research into conservation. In the research, children saw the research move the objects. This could've influenced them to think the quantity changed. D: McGarrige & Donaldson: naughty teddy study (4-6 y/os). When the counters were 'accidentally' moved, children could conserve. Invalidates the characteristics of the pre-operational stage as 4-6y/os could conserve.