Exam 8: Cognitive Development: Piagets Theory, Cases Neo-Piagetian Theory, and Vygotskys Sociocultural Viewpoint

According to current research findings, many of Piaget's specific assertions regarding human development have received little empirical support.Given these considerations, how should a modern developmentalist regard Piaget's theory?

Explain what a belief-desire theory of mind is, and discuss how children's understanding of beliefs and desires changes from toddlerhood through preschool (2 through 5 years).

Contrast Piaget's and Vygotsky's viewpoints on private speech.

According to Vygotsky, what does the use of private speech mean for a child's cognitive development?

Eight-month-old infants tend to search for an object in its original hiding place even after watching the object being moved to a new location.Which statement best summarizes the current research data as to why this occurs?

Suppose that you are part of a curriculum review team that is concerned with creating a learning environment that will optimize cognitive development and foster true understanding of concepts as well as "teach the facts." What recommendations follow from Piaget's and Vygotsky's notions of cognitive growth? What would be your personal recommendation?

Destiny is trying to put her books onto her new bookshelves, but she is having trouble deciding how to best group them.She knows she could put all of her picture books together and all of her harder-to-read books together, or she could put all of her books about horses together, even though some books about horses are picture books and others are harder.Based on this information, what cognitive operation is Destiny beginning to understand?

According to Vygotsky, what does the term scaffolding refer to?

Which statement best characterizes Vygotsky's interpretation of private speech?

Discuss what the results from research by Baillargeon (and colleagues) suggest about Piaget's conclusions regarding object permanence.Is Baillargeon measuring what Piaget claimed to measure? If not, then what is being measured?

Contrast Piaget's and Vygotsky's views on the role of language in cognitive development.

According to Piaget, what does egocentric speech indicate about the child?

According to Vygotsky, how does a preschooler's private speech change over time?

Which of the following is among the key criticisms of Piaget's theory of cognitive development?

Trace the development of object permanence as originally proposed by Piaget.

Suppose that 3-year-old Syrah becomes quite upset when her mom dresses up in a witch costume on Halloween.According to Piaget, the lack of which of the following cognitive processes caused Syrah to become upset?

According to Piaget, what is intelligence?

What is the Piagetian term for the mental structures that the child uses as a basis for responding to either old or new experiences?

According to Robbie Case, how should we view the process of accommodation?

When a child recognizes that the physical properties of objects remain the same, despite changes in appearance, what has been mastered?