1. 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

2. New research on object permanence Baillargeon, Spelke, & Wasserman (1985)
Habituation Display
Test 1 Display
Test 2 Display

3. The A-not-B Error A trials: A location B location
Toy hidden here in front of infant
Infant searches here
B trials:

4. 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

5. Immediate and Deferred Imitation Meltzoff & Moore (1994)

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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