piaget's theory

• what does piaget's theory state


  logical thinking matures in stages.

  cognition (thinking) changes over time.

  children think differently from adults.
• what are the 4 stages of cognitive development

  sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, formal operational
• at what age is the sensorimotor stage


  0-2
• at what age is the pre-operational stage


  2-7
• at what age is the concrete operational stage


  7-11
• at what age is the formal operational stage


  11+
• whats the characteristic of the sensorimotor stage


  object permanence develops
• what is object permanence


  when you know something is there, even when you can't see it
• what are the characteristics of the pre-operational stage


  children are egocentric, and lack conservation
• what are the characteristics of the concrete operational stage


  not egocentric, can conserve
• what are the characteristics of the formal operational stage


  can think about abstract concepts and form arguments
• what are the 3 evaluation points of piaget's stages


  -underestimated children's abilities

  -overestimated children's abilities

  +basic idea is correct
• piaget stages evaluation - underestimated children's abilites (-)


  underestimated children's abilites.

  some types of thinking develop earlier than piaget proposed.

  theory isn't fully correct.
• piaget stages evaluation - overestimated children's abilities (-)


  overestimated children's abilities.

  suggested that children 11+ are capable of abstract reasoning but most can't cope with Wason's card sorting task in abstract form.

  theory isn't fully correct.
• piaget stages evaluation - basic idea is correct (+)


  basic idea is correct.

  shows how children's thinking changes with age.

  theory is valid.
• what is conservation


  knowing that, although appearance changes, quantity stays the same.
• what did piaget say about conservation


  younger children can't conserve quantities
• what study challenges what piaget says about conservation


  naughty teddy study
• who did the naughty teddy study


  mcgarrigle and donaldson
• naughty teddy study - aim


  see if a deliberate change in a row of counters would help younger children conserve
• naughty teddy study - method


  children aged 4-6 years. 2 rows of counters, teddy messed up 1 of them. child asked if the rows were the same.
• naughty teddy study - results


  deliberate change - 41% conserved

  accidental change - 68% conserved

  older children did better than the younger ones
• naughty teddy study - conclusion 


  piaget's method doesnt't show what children can do. this study does show that there are still age-related changes.
• what are 3 evaluation points of the naughty teddy study


  -the sample

  -the change was not noticed

  +challenges piaget
• naughty teddy study evaluation - the sample (-)


  unrepresentative sample.

  primary school sample from one school.

  can't generalise.
• naughty teddy evaluation - the change was not noticed (-)


  change could've been unnoticed.

  children may appear to conserve because they simply didn't notice the change as they were distracted by the teddy.

  can't fully know what caused the results.
• naughty teddy evaluation - challenges piaget (+)


  challenges piaget.

  study shows that piaget confused the children with his style of questioning.

  helps refine piaget's theory.
• what is egocentrism


  seeing the world from only your own point of view
• how did piaget test egocentrism


  the 3 mountains task
• what did the 3 mountains task show

  egocentrism up to the age of 7
• what study challenges what piaget says about egocentrism


  policeman doll study
• who did the policeman doll study

  hughes
• policeman doll study - aim


  create a test that would make more sense than piaget's
• policeman doll study - method


  3.5-5 year olds asked to hide a boy doll from 2 policemen. they were given practise first with 1 doll.
• policeman doll study - results


  90% could hide the boy doll away from 2 policeman.

  3 year olds did less well with the more complex task.
• policeman doll study - conclusion


  children aged 4 years are mostly not egocentric.

  piaget underestimated abilities, but was right that thinking changes with age.
• what are 3 evaluation points of the policeman doll study


  +more realistic

  -effects of expectations

  +challenges piaget
• policeman doll study evaluation - more realistic (+)


  more realistic.

  task made better sense to children, and they were given practice so they understood.

  more realistic test of abilities.
• policeman doll study evaluation - effects of expectation (-)


  effects of expectation.

  unconscious cues from the researcher may have influenced the children's behaviour.

  results lack validity.
• policeman doll study evaluation - challenges piaget (+)


  challenges piaget.

  study shows piaget's task confused the children, making them appear less able thinkers.

  helps to refine piaget's theory.