Theories of Cognitive Development:
An insight to the theories of Piaget, Information-processing and Vygotsky
How do we learn? How do we grow? Over the years, psychologists have studied to great lengths the processes that humans go through as they progress from infancy to adulthood. Several theories have emerged over time with three prominent ones. Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky produced two important and distinct theories. Another important theory, the information-processing theory, presents a completely different point of view. Each theory has is differences from the other and gives insight into the developing human mind. Jean Piaget believed that all children are curious and act as scientists in their never-ending quest to build
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This mental hardware is the “wiring” of the brain. It is the structure and pathways built in that allow the brain to function. The software is in reference to “programs” that allow people to perform specific tasks. Supporters of this theory believe that children’s mental software continues to grow and develop thorough life, becoming more complex.
Part of the Information Processing Theory is attention, which is a process that determines what sensory information receives extra cognitive processing. Over time, children learn to focus attention between orienting responses, which grab the attention, and tasks at hand. As development continues, attention span is developed and children become able to focus their attention on things for longer periods of time.
Learning is another important part of the Information-processing. Learning occurs through the process classical conditioning, among others. In classical conditioning, one response is elicited be providing a stimulus that is produced by another stimulus. The ever-popular example would be Pavlov’s dog. In this experiment, dogs were trained to recognize that food, which caused salivation, would be given to them after a bell was rung. Eventually the dogs learned that the bell meant food was coming and began to salivate upon hearing the bell. “Young babies remember events for
In current educational psychology, both the works of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky have become prominent in an understanding of developmental cognition in childhood (Duchesne, McMaugh, Bochner & Karuse, 2013, p. 56). Their theories are complimentary and provide a more rigorous comprehension of childhood development (Shayer, M., 2003, p. 465). Their varying principles are applicable to many situations concerning the development of children. The focuses of Piaget and Vygotsky on the ways of childhood development differ. Piaget was focused on the four developmental stages of cognitive growth in his Theory of Cognitive Development, whilst Vygotsky’s principles were based on development in a societal manner with his
The study of Cognitive theories has many different aspects that have been debated many years ago. Developmental psychologists try to explain cognitive development approaches which describe the process of human 's thought. One of the developmental psychologist who studied on the area of cognitive was Jean Piaget. Jean Piaget a Swiss psychologist was the first developmental researcher who has extensive research on cognitive development. In addition, the revolution of Jean Piaget’s cognitive theory has changed the development psychology forever. In fact, although this theory is one of the most influential theories that have had a major impact on child’s cognitive development, many developmental psychologist has been criticized it as well(Miller,2007). Therefore, the limitations of this theory made the developmental psychologists thinking of information processing theory might complete Piaget’s Theory(Miller,2007). Information processing theory is another theory that was engaged in the era of cognitive development. It is possible to better understand Piaget theory and Information Processing theory by comparing several important aspects of developmental psychology: nature of humans, quantitative or qualitative, and nature or nurture.
The debate about who has the most accurate theory ,Jean Piaget or Lev Vygotsky. has been ongoing for many years. Both theorist have very supportive and reasonable theories concerning child development, but the differentiate along the lines of how how children process information through attention ,memory, and strategies.( Santrock 2011,p.50) Jean Piaget theory states that children development depends on their experiences and thoughts (schemas) as they grow up . While Vygotsky believed that development of child depends on experiences and assistants with others in the world.
Why is it that a four year old thinks there is more of water in a tall narrow glass than there is in a short broader glass, when both glasses contain the same amount of water? The answer can be found if one determines the child's developmental level of cognition. In exploring the concept of cognitive development, two names are sure to come up, Piaget and Vygotsky.
Children are constantly learning new information from many sources, but where is it that they receive the majority of their learning experience? Dr. Jean Piaget and Dr. Lev Vygotsky were both contributors to the theory of cognitive development. They both believe children are influenced by their environment, however both have different views of how a cognitive development occurs. Understanding the way children learn and take in information is essential to their development. With assistance for the text Development Through the Lifespan by Laura E. Berk (2014), this paper will examine the theories of both Piaget and Vygotsky in regard to cognitive development and teaching methods of children in mid-childhood.
senses at input until it emerges as a behavioral response at output. The information we
Jean Piaget considered that children’s way of thinking is different from the adults. It is a kid's nature to understand those things that they do not know. In this theory, Piaget accounted the intellectual development of the child. Moreover, he coined that children gain information by adding (assimilation) and adjusting (accommodation) their prior knowledge (schema) (Cherry,
Jean Piaget was a psychologist who spent numerous years studying children and writing on their development. Psychology played a major role in understanding the development of intelligence in children. Piaget’s methods for doing accurate research required meticulous observations then he reported on what was observed. He started out making observations using his own three children as they engaged in several different tasks, then moved to other children and young adults. After concluding very extensive research he created a detailed stage theory of development known as “Piaget’s 4 stages of cognitive development”.
The information processing theory is a thinking method, when trying to understand how the human mind moves sensory information’s to other parts of the human mind. The information processing theory starts off with the “input” which will come from the environment e.g. the movement of a player within a rugby game, which will then be picked up by the sensory stores. The information that we gathered from the environment will be stored within the sensory store for 200-500 milliseconds before being passed on to the perceptual mechanism.
What are the major challenges to Piaget's theory of cognitive development and what aspects still have value?
Information processing is how the brain interrupts and holds onto the information learned at any given time. There are many different aspects that go into what information is stored, how long it is stored for, and how it is used. The first important concept is a script. A script allows a person to recall information on how an event will take place, this is true for remembering how to act in a classroom, what to do at the grocery store, or even the right way to act in social settings. The script is learned from passed experiences and is perfected over time. Scripts allow a person to engage in regular activities almost as though he or she is on
Piaget also studied children in his own family, these studies would eventually contribute to his theory. For example, he noticed something interesting when he was watching
The three adaptive processes for cognitive development are assimilation, accommodation, and equilibrium. These are three agents
For this paper I will be exploring Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Swiss Psychologist Jean Piaget, theorized that children progress through four key stages of cognitive development that change their understanding of the world. By observing his own children, Piaget came up with four different stages of intellectual development that included: the sensorimotor stage, which starts from birth to age two; the preoperational stage, starts from age two to about age seven; the concrete operational stage, starts from age seven to eleven; and final stage, the formal operational stage, which begins in adolescence and continues into adulthood. In this paper I will only be focusing on the
Piaget also theorized that each child acts on his own environment for learning, thereby constructing his or her own knowledge. He also believed that hands-on activities provide aid when learning future complex skills. Consequently, children will repeat these activities until they understand them.