Cathy Graham

How did Piaget characterise the concrete operational child? Evaluate the evidence for the childs transition into and out of this stage of cognitive development.
*Introduction Piagets Cognitive Child Development Theory: children born with basic mental structure, and this is where all subsequent learning and knowledge is based 3 stages of development to theory: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational. Concrete operational: beginning of logical/operational thought. *Main Body Piaget believed concrete operational is observed in children approximately 7-11 years old Piaget argued this is a major stage in childs cognitive development Important phase as it is the beginning of logical thought processes Movement from egocentrism in preoperational stage and improvement in conservation tasks (something stays the same in quantity even though appearance changes) Can think logically and their thought processes are more rational and organized. By learning conservation the child will understand conservation of numbers at 6-7 years (Piagets row of counters: setting out a row of counters in front of the child and asking them to make another row the same, asking if there were the same number of counters. Concluded by seven children could conserve number.) *Evaluation Strengths Piaget conducted research into the concrete operational stage (conservation of numbers/volume) which demonstrated children being successful in conservation. Jahoda (1983) found children in Zimbabwe from ages of 9 years that economic concepts could be understood if they had experience on working in their parents businesses, supporting the idea that an understanding of numbers has developed.

Developmental Psychology

Cathy Graham

Price-Williams (1969) showed in children as young as 6 years it was possible to conserve knowledge who had been raised in pottery making factory environment, so the concrete operational mechanism has been shown to be effective. Weaknesses Concrete preoperational has been shown to be concerned with culture and school thinking more than simply cognitive maturation. Research by Maclean (2001) showed schooling can start at a late age and in some countries poverty results in a lack of education which is important in teaching logical thinking.

Developmental Psychology