What are different theories on the cognitive development of children? - ExamTest 4

Questions

Question 1

Which concept of Piaget is defined by the following: The process by which people process incoming information according to concepts they already understand.

1. Modification.
2. Equilibration.
3. Assimilation.
4. Accommodation.

Question 2

Which of the following is the right order of Piaget's stages?

1. Sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, formal operational stage.
2. Sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, formal operational stage, concrete operational stage.
3. Preoperational stage, sensorimotor stage, concrete operational stage, formal operational stage.
4. Preoperational stage, sensorimotor stage, formal operational stage, concrete operational stage.

Question 3

Which of the following is true?

1. Core-knowledge theorist propose that children are born with general knowledge and that they expand this knowledge gradually. Piaget proposes that children are born with both general knowledge and specialized learning mechanisms to acquire additional information.
2. Core-knowledge theorist see the child as scientist, Piaget sees the child as a well-adapted product of evolution. 

1. Only statement 1 is true.
2. Only statement 2 is true.
3. Both statements are true.
4. Both statements are false.

Question 4

What are the three hallmarks of Piaget's Constructivism?

1. The child is a scientist, learning happens through the environment, and extrinsic motivation.
2. The child is a 'blank slate', learning is done by the environment, and intrinsic motivation.
3. The child is a scientist, learning is done independently, and has extrinsic motivation.
4. The child is a scientist, learning is done independently, and has intrinsic motivation.

Question 5

Which theory focuses most on the innate learning skills of a child?

1. Information processing theory.
2. Piaget's Theory.
3. Dynamic systems theory.
4. Core knowledge theory.

Question 6

According to Piaget, development is both continuous and discontinuous. Which of the following aspects of Piagetian theory would be considered a source of discontinuity?

1. Assimilation.
2. Accommodation.
3. Equilibration.
4. Invariant stages.

Question 7

A noted accomplishment during Piaget's sensorimotor stage is ...

1. Symbolic representation.
2. Object permanence.
3. Conservation.
4. Egocentrism.

Question 8

According to information-processing theories, the ability to encode, store, and retrieve information is referred to as ...

1. Memory.
2. Rehearsal.
3. Metacognition.
4. Retrieval.

Question 9

Information-processing theories note several limits on children's thinking. Which of the following is not one of these limits?

1. Memory capacity.
2. Implementation of task analysis.
3. Speed of processing information.
4. Ability to utilize problem-solving strategies.

Question 10

Overlapping waves theory explains children's ability to ...

1. Selectively attend to the most relevant aspect of a problem.
2. Identify the obstacles in ahcieving a goal.
3. Effectively process mental operations.
4. Discover new strategies that lead to more efficient problem solving.

Question 11

According to core-knowledge theorists, children possess naïve theories in what three major domains?

1. Mathematics, psychology, and arts.
2. Biology, sociology, and psychology.
3. Biology, physics, and psychology.
4. Sociology, physics, and psychology.

Question 12

Five-year-old Marcus is learning gymnastics. He's having trouble on the balance beam, so his teacher assits by holding his hand as he walks across. This interaction can be described as ...

1. Guided participation.
2. Discovery learning.
3. Intersubjectivity.
4. The jigsaw approach.

Question 13

Jamal is walking with his mother. He taps her on the arm, points to an animal, and says, "Doggie!" This is an example of ...

1. Social scaffolding.
2. Joint attention.
3. Cultural tools.
4. Directed learning.

Question 14

Although Piaget argues that infants younger than 8 months fail the A-not-B error test due to a lack of object permanence, proponents of dynamic-systems theories argue their failure is ...

1. Due to a combination of habit, memory demands, and focus of attention.
2. Influenced by the infant's motor abilities.
3. Caused by an infant's fragile attachment to the hidden object.
4. Influenced by infant fatigue.

Question 15

Although 15-month-old Lena has been walking unassisted for several months, on recent trips to the park her father has noticed Lena walking on some areas of the playground but crawling on others. Lena's regression from walking to crawling in this example is best explained by which theory?

1. Constructivist theory.
2. Overlapping waves theory.
3. Sociocultural theories.
4. Information-processing theories.

Answers

Question 1

C. Accommodation is the process by which people adapt current knowledge structures in response to new experiences. Equilibration is the process by which children balance assimilation and accommodation to create stable understanding. Modification is the inclination to react to the environment in such a way to reach personal goals.

Question 2

A. The correct order is sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, formal operational stage.

Question 3

D. Both statements are exactly the opposite. Piaget proposes that children are born with general knowledge and that they expand this knowledge gradually. Core-knowledge theorists propose that children are born with both general knowledge and specialized learning mechanisms to rapidly acquire additional information. Piaget sees the child as scientist, core-knowledge theorists see the child as a well-adapted product of evolution. 

Question 4

D. The child is a scientist, learning is done independently, and has intrinsic motivation.

Question 5

D. The core-knowledge theory.

Question 6

D. Invariant stages are considered an example of discontinuity in development.

Question 7

B. Object permanence is attained during the sensorimotor stage of development. Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or otherwise sensed.

Question 8

A. Memory is the ability to encode, sotre, and retrieve information.

Question 9

B. Implementation of task analysis is not considered a limit on children's thinking.

Question 10

D. Overlapping waves theory explains children's ability to discover new strategies that lead to more efficient problem solving.

Question 11

C. Children possess naïve theories in biology, physics, and psychology.

Question 12

A. This is an example of guided participation.

Question 13

B. This is an example of joint attention. Joint attention is the ability to engage in certain social interactions such as sharing, following and focusing attention on an object or event through the use of eye movements and gestures and attuning them to the other person.

Question 14

A. Proponents of dynamic-systems theories would claim this failure is due to a combination of habit, memory demands, and focus of attention.

Question 15

B. This example is best explained by the overlapping waves theory.