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learning_theories:stage_theory_of_cognitive_development [2011/04/11 14:02] jpetrovic [Bibliography] |
learning_theories:stage_theory_of_cognitive_development [2011/04/11 14:16] jpetrovic [Criticism] |
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===== Criticism ===== | ===== Criticism ===== | ||
- | One of the criticisms of Piaget's theory lies on the fact that nor him or coworkers didn't leave an instrument for diagnosing child's current stage of cognitive development. | + | A common criticism of Piaget's theory lies on the fact that nor him or coworkers didn't leave an instrument for diagnosing child's current stage of cognitive development. Still, as a border between preoperational period and operational period Piaget suggested **conservation experiments**. For example, two equal glasses filled with liquid are presented to a child, after which liquid out of one glass is poured into a third, more narrow glass. The child is then asked which glass holds more liquid. Only a child in the concrete- or formal-operational period should realize both glasses hold equal amount of liquid. According to Piaget's theory, these stage differences cannot be overcome using any kind of training. |
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- | Still, as a border between preoperational period and operational period Piaget suggested conservation experiments. For example, two equal glasses filled with liquid are presented to a child, after which liquid out of one glass is poured into a third, more narrow glass. The child is then asked which glass holds more liquid. Only a child in the concrete- or formal-operational period should realize both glasses hold equal amount of liquid. | + | |
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- | According to Piaget's theory, the crossing between the stages cannot be overcome with any training, yet a number of experiments((For details see: )) | + | |
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- | Various criticisms of Piaget's work include: | + | |
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- | * **Oversimplification of stages**/**underestimating abilities of children** - it has been shown that in some cases children can learn some concepts even before reaching a particular stage. Piaget's stages are therefore **not as distinct** as he assumed. | + | |
- | * **Unscientific method** - Piaget based his conclusions on observations of a rather small number of children who do **not** necessarily form **a statistically representative sample**. | + | |
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- | It is often considered that Piaget's **experiments weren't designed carefully enough** to exclude other explanations, that he offered to **little evidence** for his theory and that he didn't address important questions like **social and motivational influences** on cognitive development. | + | |
+ | But a number of experiments((For details see: [[http://www.scribd.com/doc/41760294/Educational-Psychology-a-Century-of-Contributions|Zimmerman, Barry J., and Dale H. Schunk. Educational psychology: a century of contributions. Routledge, 2003.]])) have proved the opposite. **The children's ability to learn is not so strictly defined by their current stage in accordance with Piaget's theory**. | ||
+ | As the result criticisms of Piaget usually emphasized that, | ||
+ | * his development stages were often considered to be **oversimplified** or **underestimating abilities of children** | ||
+ | * his **experiments** are considered **not to be designed carefully enough** to exclude other explanations, | ||
+ | * he offered to **little evidence** for his theory, and that | ||
+ | * he didn't address important questions like **social and motivational influences** on cognitive development. | ||
===== Keywords and most important names ===== | ===== Keywords and most important names ===== |