Cognitive Development Neo-Piagetian Research New research on sensorimotor stages Object permanence The A-not-B error Immediate and deferred imitation New research on preoperational thought Egocentrism Animism Conservation New research on concrete operations The sequencing of conservation abilities New research on formal operations Does everyone achieve formal operations? Does formal operations appear earlier than supposed? Evaluation of Piaget’s theory Piaget underestimated developing minds Competence versus performance Does development occur in stages? The explanation of intellectual development 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:

The A-not-B Error Bjork & Cummings (1974) Spatial orientation versus memory deficit A trials: Infant searches here B trials: Infant searches here X X

Immediate and Deferred Imitation Meltzoff & 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