(chap 5) Piaget and formal operations

Piaget and formal operations

stage of Formal operation

• Refinement of abstract reasoning ability.

A new and flexible way of manipulating information.

- Beyond the here and now, beyond the concrete.

- Ability to use symbols to represent other symbols, appreciate metaphors, think about what could be, imagine possibilities, form and test hypotheses.

Hypothetical-deductive reasoning

Involves a methodical and scientific approach to problem-solving.

- Ability to develop, analyse, and test a hypothesis.

The pendulum problem

The subject is shown a pendulum.

• They are taught that any of four factors can be changed >

string length, object weight, release height, and the amount of

force applied.

• They are asked to determine which factor or combination of

factors affects the speed.

Hypothetical-deductive reasoning : The pendulum problem (Age < 7 years old)

• Unable to develop a plan: trial and error.

- Places a light object on a long string and pushes it.

- Places a heavy object on a short string and pushes it.

- Removes the weight. Random and meaningless method for the child: unable to solve the problem.

Hypothetical-deductive reasoning : The pendulum problem  Age = 10 years old

Ability to take into account two factors:

- He/She discovers that the variation in the string length and the object's weight affect the oscillation speed.

- Since he/she changes both factors at the same time,

he/she doesn't know which one is fundamental or if

both are.

Hypothetical-deductive reasoning : The pendulum problem Age= 15 years old

Ability to approach the problem by designing an experiment.

- He/She varies only one factor and keeps the other three constant each time.

→ “Systematic method Hypothetical-deductive reasoning”

• The person considers all the relationships

• The person can imagine and tests them systematically, one by one, to eliminate the false ones and arrive at the true one.

• The person is capable of presenting hypothetico-deductive reasoning: a tool for solving everyday problems.

Hypothetico-deductive reasoning: What drives the shift to formal reasoning?

• Brain maturation

• Environmental opportunities

• Even if the neurological development is appropriate, they can only achieve it with the proper stimulation > hypothetico-deductive reasoning can be taught and learned

Hypothetico-deductive reasoning are influenced by

• Problem context

• Social and cultural influences

• Individual differences in metacognition

Problem context

variation in performance on different types of tasks.

Social and cultural influences

types of information & thinking that a culture considers important.

Individual differences in metacognition

awareness and monitoring of one's own mental processes and strategies