Cognitive DevelopmentNeo-Piagetian Research

I. Neo-Piagetian researchA. New research on sensorimotor stages

1. Object permanence2. The A-not-B error3. Immediate and deferred imitation

B. New research on preoperational thought1. Egocentrism2. Animism3. Conservation

C. New research on concrete operations1. The sequencing of conservation abilities

D. New research on formal operations1. Does everyone achieve formal operations?2. Does formal operations appear earlier than

supposed?

II. Evaluation of Piaget’s theoryA. Piaget underestimated developing mindsB. Competence versus performanceC. Does development occur in stages?D. The explanation of intellectual developmentE. The importance of social and cultural influences

New research on object permanence

Baillargeon, Spelke, & Wasserman (1985)

Habituation Display

Test 1 Display

Test 2 Display

The A-not-B Error

A trials:

A location B location

Toy hidden here in front of infant Infant searches here

B trials:

A location B location

Toy hidden here in front of infant Infant searches here

The A-not-B ErrorBjork & Cummings (1974)

Spatial orientation versus memory deficit

A trials:

Infant searches here

B trials:

Infant searches here

X

X

Immediate and Deferred ImitationMeltzoff & Moore (1994)

Evidence for formal operations earlier than supposed?

Positive If … then … statements

Premise 1: If Jack washes the dishes, his father will be pleased.

Premise 2: If Jack’s father is pleased, Jack receives a toonie.

Premise 3: Jack washes the dishes.

Conclusion (?): Jack gets a toonie.

Evidence for formal operations earlier than supposed?

Negative If … then … statements

Premise 1: If there is a knife there is a fork.

Premise 2: There is not a knife

Conclusion (?): There is not a fork.

Evaluation of Piaget’s Theory

Piaget’s contributions:• Humans are active in their own

development• Young humans think differently than older

humans• Impetus for researchers

Challenges to Piaget:• Piaget underestimated the abilities of young

minds• Is this a serious criticism?

• The competence versus performance issue• Does cognitive development occur in

stages?• Stages as “holistic” structures• Horizontal decalage

• Piaget’s explanation of intellectual development

• Too little attention paid to social and cultural factors