The ability to determine that a certain quantity will remain the same despite adjustment of the container, shape or apparent size. Happens in the concrete operational stage

What and when is hypothetico-deductive reasoning?

Being able to manipulate hypothetical ideas and consider what could happen. Happens in the formal operational stage.

Aim of the Piaget and Inhelder study and when (year)?

To investigate at what age children are able to take the view of another person. Also to study children's overall system of putting together a number of different views that they see. 1956

How many participants and what age?

100 children from the age of 4 - 12

Describe the mountain model.

3D model built with paper and car. The lowest mountain was green with a house on top The middle mountain was brown with a red cross The tallest grey with snow on the top.

Describe the 10 pictures.

10 pictures taken of the model from different positions. Children asked to pick out the one their own viewpoint and one that represents the doll's viewpoint.

Describe the 3 cards.

3 cards to match the colour of the mountains. Children asked to arrange the cards to represent the mountain scene from different viewpoints.

Results of children age from 4 - 6.5 (piaget)

They couldn't place the doll in a position to match that was shown in a picture.

Results of children age 7 - 9 (Piaget)

Showed more understanding of different viewpoints and able to pick pictures and represents the doll's viewpoint.

Conclusion about children age 7

They are egocentric, they couldn't see from another viewpoint that was different from themselves.

Conclusion about older children

They were non-egocentric, they were able to compare their own viewpoint to the viewpoint of others.

Conclusion about Piaget's theory

This supports Piaget's stages of development, show the key to cognitive difference between pre-operational and concrete operational stages which is egocentrism

One weakness

Sample was unrepresentative, only 100 children and only selected ages. Sample wasn't enough and they were from the same culture so it was culturally biased.

Another weakness

The setting and task were artificial, so hard to apply to real life situation. They were in a room with an observer

One strength

Standardised procedure. The same tests, photos, observes ad instructions. Making it easier to replicate.

Another strength

An experiment method, high levels of control. It can be manipulated. The experiment would be the same for everyone.

An improvement for generalisability

A higher sample of people that come from different backgrounds (different countries)

An improvement of ecological validity

Instead of artificial environment, take them outside to actual mountains.

Pierre Dasen evaluating theory.

In Geneva, found that between 10 to 13 not 5-7 as Piaget said. Challenges his theory with conservation it happens later than they said in the stages.

Helen broke evaluating theory

Test egocentrism, used grover from 'Sesame street' to make them understand his point of view. The model could also rotate. 79% of 4 year olds selected the right view 93% of the time. Challenges the theory because younger children could identify the results.