Piagets Theory of Cognitive Development

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Piagets Theory of Cognitive Development
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• Jean Piaget
• (1896-1980)
• The Child as Little Scientist

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The Child as Little Scientist

• Children learn through play

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Schemes

• Scheme a pattern of behavior or thought used in
  relation to physical objects
• Example schemes (for infants)
• Sucking
• Shaking
• Banging

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Assimilation and Accommodation

• Assimilation the process by which new
  experiences are incorporated into existing
  schemes
• Accommodation the change that occurs in an
  existing mental scheme as a result of the
  assimilation of a new event or object
• New experience ? Assimilation ? Accommodation

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Assimilation and Accommodation
Old Scheme Bang all items on table. New
Experience Press button on fire engine causes
lights to light up Assimilation Update of
bang scheme needed Accommodation New button
press scheme similar to bang scheme
created New Scheme Press button on fire engine
toys. Bang all other items on table.
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Assimilation and Accommodation

• Perfect play experience
• Assimilation to old schemes possible
• Accommodation required
• Cognitive development follows

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Operations

• Operation a reversible action. An action whose
  effect can be undone by another action

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Operations

• Understanding of operations is critical for
  understanding of physical principles

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Operations
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Operations
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Four Stages of Development

• Sensorimotor Stage
• Preoperational Stage
• Concrete-Operational Stage
• Formal-Operational Stage

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Four Stages of Development

• Sensorimotor Stage
• Birth to 2 years old
• Schemes for objects that are physically present,
  but not for objects that are absent
• Preoperational Stage
• Concrete-Operational Stage
• Formal-Operational Stage

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Four Stages of Development

• Sensorimotor Stage
• Preoperational Stage
• 2 to 7 years old
• Thought involves symbols. Absent objects can be
  represented.
• However, understanding is based on appearances.
• Concrete-Operational Stage
• Formal-Operational Stage

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Four Stages of Development

• Sensorimotor Stage
• Preoperational Stage
• Concrete-Operational Stage
• 7 to 12 years old
• Understanding of experienced operations
• Formal-Operational Stage

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Four Stages of Development

• Sensorimotor Stage
• Preoperational Stage
• Concrete-Operational Stage
• Formal-Operational Stage
• 12 years old and on
• General understanding of operations. Operational
  knowledge is applied to novel situations.

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Four Stages of Development
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Limitations of Piagets Theory

• It overestimates age differences in ways of
  thinking
• Underestimation of the abilities of young
  children
• Overestimation of the abilities of adults

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Limitations of Piagets Theory

• It is vague about the process of change
• Piagets concepts are hard to quantify

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Limitations of Piagets Theory

• It underestimates the role of the social
  environment
• The self is the primary cause of development in
  Piagets theory
• In reality, children learn much about how to
  think from social interactions with adults and
  peers

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Applying the wrong scheme