Childrens Cognitive Development: Alternatives to Piaget

Outline:
   

Brief review of Piagets theory The role of culture - implications for Piagets theory The theory of Vygotsky The theory of Bruner (see intranet)

Summary of Piaget


Stage theory of development - older children think qualitatively differently to younger children. In other words, at each successive stage, it's not just a matter of doing something better, but of doing a different thing altogether. 4 stages: Stage 1: Sensorimoter Period (0-2 years) (0 Stage 2: Pre-operational stage (2-7 years) Pre(2 Stage 3: Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years) (7 Stage 4: Formal Operational Stage (11+ years)

Development is the combined result of: maturation of the brain and nervous system experiences that help children adapt to new environments - adaptation: an organisms ability to fit in with its environment (through the process of assimilation and accommodation).

Criticisms of Piaget
Underestimated the ability of children
Tasks were methodologically flawed. As several studies have shown flawed. Piaget underestimated the abilities of children because his tests were sometimes confusing or difficult to understand.

Underestimated the impact of CULTURE:

Piagets tasks are culturally biased Schooling and literacy affect rates of development


e.g. Greenfields study of the Wolof

Formal operational thinking is not universal



e.g. Gladwins study of the Polynesian islanders

Criticisms of Piaget
Methodological issues

Piaget used naturalistic observations of his own children when they were only a few weeks old. The tendency for observers to be biased can be counteracted by using two or more observers (re: inter-observer reliability), but interPiaget observed and made notes alone. Generalisations should not be made from research such as this, but Piaget did generalise and many of his ideas on sensori-motor and sensoriprepre-operational stages are based on these observations.

Lev Vygotsky
Because Piaget concentrated on the individual child, he failed to consider the effect that the social setting may have on cognitive development. The way that adults use language and gestures and the child's experience through social interactions are very influential on cognitive development (re: Vygotsky).

Lev Vygotsky
  

1896 - 1934 Work remained little known because it was banned by Stalin after Vygotskys death Collapse of the Soviet Union meant: greater dialogue between the West and Russia Vygotskys work translated into English

Vygotskys Vygotskys Main Ideas

Vygotsky is credited with developing the concept of Social Cognition (aka Social Development Theory of Learning), which proposes that:


Social Interaction and culture has a dramatic impact on cognitive development. Cognitive processes (language, thought, reasoning) develop through social interaction. Learning is largely mediated by social interaction of students and "More Knowledgeable Others" (e.g. teachers, parents, coaches, peers, experts, etc.)

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)



Vygotsky centred much of his research on a phenomenon he coined as "the Zone of Proximal Development," or ZPD. Vygotsky stated:

The zone of proximal development defines those functions that have not yet matured, but are in the process (of doing so) so) what what is the zone of proximal development today will be the actual development level tomorrow that is, what a child can do with assistance toady she will be able to do by herself tomorrow tomorrow.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)



In this case proximal means what comes next. proximal The idea is that a child is only able to take the next step in their cognitive development if another person typically an adult supports and prompts them to do so. This sort of assistance has been called scaffolding. scaffolding.

Scaffolding


Wood, Bruner, and Ross (1976) developed Vygotskys notion of a zone of proximal development. They introduced the concept of scaffolding, which refers to the scaffolding, context provided by knowledgeable people such as adults to help children to develop their cognitive skills. An important aspect of scaffolding is that there is a gradual withdrawal of support as the childs knowledge and confidence increase.

Scaffolding Example
Left to his own devices, could this boy make his sister a birthday cake? His mother uses scaffolding to create a situation in which he can begin to move into a zone of proximal development.

Differences between Piaget and Vygotsky

Source of cognitive development


Piaget believed that the most important source of cognition is the children themselves. Piaget emphasised the role of an inbuilt (biological) tendency to adapt to the environment, by a process of selfselfdiscovery and play. Vygotsky emphasised the role of culture and experience. Vygotsky experience. believed that what drives cognitive development is social interaction a childs experience with other people. Culture shapes cognition.

Differences between Piaget and Vygotsky

Language and Thought


For Piaget, language is a product of cognitive development. In other words, cognitive development (IV) determines language use (DV). Vygotsky believed that language develops from social interactions, for communication purposes. Later language ability becomes internalised as thought and inner speech. Thought is the result of language. In other words, social interactions (IV) determines language use (DV).

Differences between Piaget and Vygotsky

Stage Theory


Piaget emphasised universal cognitive change. Vygotskys theory can be applied to all ages (not a stage theory) and emphasised individual development.

Discovery Learning (Education)



Piaget advocated for discovery learning with little teacher intervention. Vygotsky promoted guided discovery in the classroom with the help of a MKO.