Piaget s Theory: Important Concepts Constructivism Knowledge is constructed through experience with the world The child is an active participant in his/her own development (not passive learners). Jean Piaget Schemas (AKA schemes) Knowledge structures that guide the child how to act on the world Piaget s Theory: Important Concepts Piaget s Theory: Important Concepts Adaptation processes (Changing Schemas) Assimilation Accommodation Equilibrium No change. New knowledge state matches current information/schema Disequilibrium Must change AND reorganize schemas! New knowledge doesn t match current organization. Quantitative vs. Qualitative Development Piaget: Development occurs in stages Piaget s Stages Sensorimotor Stage Ages 0-2 Preoperational Stage Ages 2-7 Concrete Operational Stage Ages 7-11 Formal Operational Stage Ages 11+ 1
What can infants in the Sensorimotor Period do? Reflexes, perceptual abilities, and basic learning mechanisms (assimilation, accommodation, equilibration) Form fundamental concepts (time, space, & causality) Knowledge is limited to immediate perceptions and actions How do these abilities develop during the sensorimotor stage? 1. Simple Reflexes 2. Habits and Primary Circular Reactions 3. Secondary Circular Reactions 4. Coordination of Secondary Circular Reactions 5. Tertiary Circular Reactions How does the Sensorimotor Stage end? 6. Substage 6: Internalization of Schemas 18 to 24 months Mental Representation Deferred Imitation Can use symbols (e.g., words), but cannot think symbolically Can pretend to use a telephone Cannot pretend a banana is a telephone Preoperational Stage (ages 2-7) Symbolic Thought Can use a symbol, an object, or a word to stand for something else Words as symbols Can talk about the past and future, not just the immediate situation 2
Preoperational Stage (2-7) Piaget s Conservation Tasks Cognitive limitations No Mental Operations Egocentrism Centrism Not logical No conservation of quantity Conservation of Liquid Conservation of Number Conservation of Mass CONSERVATION TASK (number) Concrete Operational Stage (7-11/12 years) Mental operations begin Simple logic Pass conservation tasks But only on physical objects Mental operations Pass conservation tasks Simple logic Measure, add, subtract Decentration Focus on multiple aspects of problem at once Height and width Reversibility Mentally undoing an action 3
Concrete operations only Operations on actual ( concrete ) objects and events Cannot think abstractly Example: justice, freedom Cannot think hypothetically Concrete Operations Stage (Ages 7-11) Can pass classification problems: Are there more gray marbles, or are there more marbles? Can pass seriation tasks Arranging items in order 14 Formal Operations Stage (11+) Formal Operations Stage (11+) Mental Representations + Manipulation of Symbols + Logic & Concrete Operations (Reversible) + Hypothetical and Abstract thinking Hypothetical/Abstract Thinking Can form abstract rules Adding 1 to an even number = odd Solve problems systematically Can plan ahead! Appreciate vague concepts, like love, fairness, and values. 4
Piaget s Pendulum Problem Dialoguing with Piaget: What he might have missed Underestimated children s abilities Children can pass modified tasks at earlier ages. Stage-like progression too rigid Conservation & Classification emerge separately Training on a task can advance children to the next stage Stages are not cross-culturally universal. Research since Piaget: Object Permanence Example Background: What is object permanence? What is habituation? What is the violation of expectation task? How did Baillargeon demonstrate that infants have object permanence? Violation of Expectation Tasks 19 5
Physical Properties of Objects Baillargeon s rotating drawbridge study (1987) Physical Properties of Objects/Number Wynn s mathematical addition study (1992) Uses Violation of Expectation Paradigm Habituation event Test events?? Habituation Event Physical Properties of Objects Wynn s mathematical addition study (1992) Uses Violation of Expectation Paradigm Does this mean that babies can do math? Giesela Labouvie-Vief Relativistic thinking Postformal thought Postformal Thought Possible Event Impossible Event Test Events 6
How Information Is Used: Schaie s Stages 7