Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development (OCR A-Level Psychology): Revision Notes
11.1.2 Piaget's Stages of Intellectual Development
Piaget's stages of intellectual development:
Piaget believed that children pass through stages of development in a universal sequence. He called these the stages of intellectual development, and there are cognitive abilities that children acquire as they progress through the stages.
| Sensory motor stage (0-2 years) | Children begin to understand object permanence at around 7 months, learning that objects still exist when out of sight |
|---|---|
| Pre-operational stage (2-7 years) | Children develop egocentrism where they assume that others think and experience situations in the same way that they do |
| Concrete operational stage (7-11 years) | Children learn conservation, meaning the ability to recognise that the quantity of an object remains the same, even if its appearance changes. They also learn class inclusion, which helps them comprehend that a whole category of objects can include several different subcategories. |
P: The idea of universal stages of development is supported by cross-cultural research.
E: Studies have found that children worldwide progress through similar stages of cognitive development, suggesting that Piaget's stages are not limited to specific cultures.
E: This universality enhances the credibility of Piaget's theory as a fundamental aspect of human cognitive development.
P: Piaget may have underestimated the cognitive abilities of children.
E: Research by Baillargeon and DeVos (1991) suggests that infants have an understanding of object permanence much earlier than Piaget proposed.
E: This challenges the timing of Piaget's stages, indicating that cognitive development may occur earlier than he suggested.
P: Piaget's theory has had a significant impact on educational practices.
E: His emphasis on active learning has led to the development of constructivist teaching methods, where children are encouraged to explore, experiment, and discover on their own.
E: This approach is effective in enhancing children's understanding and retention of information.