Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development (OCR GCSE Psychology): Revision Note
Exam code: J203
Piaget's theory of cognitive development
Jean Piaget (1896–1980) was a Swiss psychologist interested in how children think and learn
His theory is based on the idea that children’s thinking is qualitatively different from that of adults
He claimed that a child’s thinking progresses according to their age, i.e. it is a maturational theory
Piaget proposed that cognitive development occurs in universal, invariant stages
All children go through them in the same order, though not necessarily at the same age
Each stage is marked by new cognitive abilities and ways of understanding the world
He believed children are ‘little scientists’, actively exploring and experimenting with their environment without adult support
Children learn through discovery learning — by interacting with their surroundings and reflecting on their experiences
His theory is an example of constructivism, as children build knowledge by forming and refining their own understanding of the world
Schemas
A schema is a mental framework or structure that helps organise and interpret information
Schemas begin as simple concepts (e.g. “dog”, “food”) and become more complex as children develop (e.g. “friendship”, “justice”)
Piaget believed that schemas help children make sense of the world and predict what will happen next
As children experience new things, schemas are constantly adapted and refined through the processes of assimilation and accommodation
Assimilation
Assimilation happens when a child fits new information into an existing schema, e.g.
A child’s “bird” schema includes that birds can fly and have feathers
When they see a robin for the first time, they recognise it as a bird, as the robin has feathers and can fly
Assimilation maintains equilibrium as the child’s ‘bird’ schema is balanced – the new information makes sense and helps the child to understand their world
Accommodation
Accommodation occurs when new information doesn’t fit an existing schema, so the child must change or create a new schema, e.g.
A child sees a penguin and is told it’s a bird, but it doesn’t fly
The child adjusts their “bird” schema to include birds that can’t fly, restoring equilibrium
Over time, the child may form a new schema for flightless birds
Criticisms of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development
Piaget’s research was based largely on observations of his own children
This limits reliability, objectivity, and generalisation to wider populations
The theory has been criticised for being reductionist, as it overlooks the crucial role of teachers and social interaction in learning
Vygotsky argued that learning is a social process and that children progress more effectively when teachers ‘scaffold’ their learning through guidance and support
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Make sure you learn the reductionism vs holism criticism of Piaget’s theory — it’s specifically mentioned in the OCR specification, so exam questions may directly assess your understanding of it.
Reductionism explains behaviour by focusing on one or a few factors, simplifying complex human behaviour. This makes theories easier to test scientifically, but ignores the wider social and environmental influences that shape learning
Holism argues that behaviour should be understood as a whole, recognising that many different factors interact to shape who we are. This gives a more complete picture of human behaviour but makes it harder to test and generalise findings
In Piaget’s case, his theory is reductionist because it focuses on children as independent learners and overlooks the social and cultural support (e.g. from teachers, parents, and peers) that also drives cognitive development.
Worked Example
Here is an example of an A03 question you might be asked on this topic.
AO2: You need to analyse and evaluate psychological information, ideas, processes and procedures to make judgements and draw conclusions.
Q. Explain why Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development could be considered reductionist. [2 marks]
Model answer:
State the reason:
Piaget's theory could be seen as too simple [1 mark]
Elaborate on the reason:
This is because he failed to consider the importance of support from teachers and/or parents [1 mark]
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