Class notes
Cognitive development - A-Level Psychology notes
- Course
- Institution
- Book
Cognitive development - A-Level Psychology notes
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
More summaries for
-
Discuss explanations of a nicotine addiction (16 marks)
-
AQA A-level psychology HUMANISTIC APPROACH NOTES
-
AQA Psychology Paper 1 Summary Grid
1 review
By: Leahllews • 3 year ago
Seller
Follow
polinalobacheva
Reviews received
Content preview
Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive development The process by which our mental processes change as we age
- It’s the result of adaptation between the individual’s existing schemas and environmental ‘demands’ for
change, like new experiences which don’t fit existing schemas.
Lifespan learning: There are limitations on what can be learned at different ages due to the maturity of the mind.
Schema A cluster of related facts based on previous experiences used to generate future expectations
- Schemas can be behavioural (grasping an object) or cognitive (classifying objects).
- Schemas are ‘programs’ that people construct for dealing with the world
Assimilation In Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, the process of fitting new experiences into existing
schemas without making any change.
- A child initially tries to understand any new information in terms of their existing knowledge about the world.
- Assimilation occurs when an existing schema (sucking) is used on a new object (a toy car).
- It involves the incorporation of new information into an existing schema.
Accommodation In Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, the process of adjusting or changing existing
schemas because new, conflicting information creates disequilibrium.
- A child adapts existing schema to understand new information that doesn’t appear to fit.
- Learning how to drive a manual car develops a schema for working the 3 pedals, so when switching to
automatic, the schema must adapt quickly to be able to drive it.
o Ex. a child learns that ‘four legs and fur = dog’ so every time the chid sees an animal with similar traits
they have to assimilate their existing schema. However, when the child is introduced to a ‘cat’ which
challenges the current schema and accommodates the new information.
Equilibration Experiencing a balance between existing schemas and new experiences.
- If an experience can’t be assimilated into existing schemas, then there’s a state of imbalance which is
experienced as an unpleasant state and the individual seeks to restore balance through equilibration.
Evaluation:
+ There is evidence to support existence of innate schemas. Fantz 1961 showed that infants as young as 4 days
show a preference for a schematic face rather than the same features all jumbled up. This finding has been
replicated in a number of studies: Goren et al 1975 although none of the studies make it clear whether this is
just due to linking for things that are symmetrical. The face preference makes sense as a new born who can
recognise and respond to its own species will better elicit attachment and caring, which supports Piaget’s view
that infants are born with innate schemas
+ Applications in education: true understanding only occurs through the process of making one’s own
accommodations. Bennett criticises this, finding that children taught via formal methods did better in reading,
maths and English. This can be due to tests based on exact things that were taught in the lesson which results in
the children getting a better test score.
+ Piaget thought language didn’t play a fundamental role in cognitive development, however Vygotsky thought
otherwise. Hermina 1969 taking on Piaget’s point of view, demonstrated that children who were ‘non-
conservers’ differed in terms of their language from ‘conservers’. She then taught appropriate verbal skills to
‘non-conservers’, but 90% of them were unable to conserve. This supports the view that cognitive maturity is a
prerequisite for linguistic development, not the other way around.
+ Piaget produced the first comprehensive theory of children’s cognitive development. This theory generates a lot
of research. It’s valued for the combination of nature and nurture to explain cognitive development.
- There’s little research to support Piaget’s ideas about the effects of disequilibrium. Some of Piaget’s co-workers,
Berbel Inhelder et al 1974 showed that children’s learning was helped when there was a mild conflict between
what they expected to happen and what did happen, but Bryant 1995 argues that this wasn’t really the sort of
conflict that Piaget was referring to. The problem with Piaget’s theory is that some aspects of it aren’t testable
because concepts are hard to operationalise
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller polinalobacheva. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $9.13. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
75323 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now