IGCSE Psychology - Piaget's Conservation Theory

Questions and Answers

What is conservation?

The ability to realize that quantity remains the same even when the appearance of an object or group of objects changes.

Provide an example of conservation.

The volume of liquid stays the same when poured between vessels of different shapes.

What did Piaget demonstrate about younger children's understanding of conservation?

Younger children find it difficult to understand that quantities don't change.

Why did McGarrigle and Donaldson challenge Piaget's results?

They wondered if the children's responses were due to seeing the counters being changed, leading them to assume a change in quantity. Signup and view all the answers

What was the aim of the 'Naughty Teddy Study'?

To see whether the child's reaction would be different if the change in the row of counters was accidental. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the method used in the 'Naughty Teddy Study'.

80 children were shown 2 rows of counters while a naughty teddy messed them up, then asked if there was more in one row or if they were the same. Signup and view all the answers

What were the results of the 'Naughty Teddy Study' regarding children’s responses?

41% of children gave the correct answer with deliberate change; 68% did so with accidental change. Signup and view all the answers

What conclusions were drawn from the 'Naughty Teddy Study'?

The study showed that traditional methods underestimated children's abilities, but age differences still existed. Signup and view all the answers

What is one strength of the 'Naughty Teddy Study'?

It challenges Piaget's assumptions by showing that children are more capable than his original tests suggested. Signup and view all the answers

What are some weaknesses of the 'Naughty Teddy Study'?

The study's participants were from one school, possibly lacking diversity and affecting the validity of conclusions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Conservation

Refers to the understanding that quantity remains unchanged despite changes in the object's appearance.

Example of Conservation

Volume of liquid remains consistent when transferred between differently shaped containers.

Piaget's Study on Conservation

Younger children struggle to grasp that quantities don’t change with appearance alterations.
Experiment involved two identical rows of six counters; spacing changes led many young children to believe one row had fewer counters.

Challenge by McGarrigle and Donaldson

Suggested that children's initial misconceptions might stem from witnessing deliberate changes in the experiment, leading them to perceive genuine quantity changes.

'Naughty Teddy Study': Aim

Investigated if children's conservation responses would differ if the change in counter arrangement was accidental rather than intentional.

'Naughty Teddy Study': Method

Included 80 children from Edinburgh (40 nursery-aged and 40 primary-aged).
Introduced a mischievous teddy who accidentally rearranged counters during a game.
Children viewed two rows of counters (4 red and 4 white) before and after transformation and were asked about the quantities.

'Naughty Teddy Study': Results

Approximately 41% of children responded correctly when the change was deliberate.
About 68% responded correctly when the arrangement was altered accidentally.
Performance improved with age; older primary school children outperformed younger nursery children.

'Naughty Teddy Study': Conclusions

Showed that previous assessments underestimated children's conservation abilities.
Many nursery-aged children demonstrated conservation, contradicting Piaget’s claim.
Age-related performance differences aligned with Piaget's theory that cognitive abilities evolve with maturation.

'Naughty Teddy Study': Strengths

Challenged Piaget’s assumptions and provoked reevaluation of his research methods.
Indicated that children might possess greater conservation skills than previously thought, highlighting the importance of research refinement.

'Naughty Teddy Study': Weaknesses

Limited sample from one school, suggesting educational background might influence results, potentially undermining validity.
Lack of diversity in participants (all from Edinburgh) hampers generalizability across different cultures and environments.
Performance discrepancies may stem from variances in language development rather than purely cognitive conservation abilities.

Description

Explore the concept of conservation in Piaget's theory of cognitive development through engaging flashcards. This quiz covers key definitions, examples, and insights from Piaget's studies, helping you grasp this fundamental psychological concept.