Piaget's theory of schema development - Cognition and Development
PIAGET’S THEORY OF SCHEMA DEVELOPMENT
Piaget suggested that we’re
all born with a small number of simple sensory or motor schemas that produce
our innate reflexes (eg. our sucking, rooting and grasping reflex). He also
suggested that our different schemas combine together to make a vastly interconnected
schema system – for example, a child’s gazing schema may combine with their
reaching schema and their grasping schema to allow the child to reach for and
pick up the toy.
Adaptation is the process of
changing a schema that doesn’t quite a situation that we find ourselves in.
There are three sub-processes involved in adaptation:
1. Assimilation
2. Equilibration
3. Accommodation
2. Equilibration
3. Accommodation
Assimilation is the process of
applying an existing schema to fit a new situation. For example: a child seeing
a zebra for the first time and calling it a horse.
Equilibration is the
‘preferred mental state’ and it occurs when we overcome the disequilibrium
(unpleasant experience of a lack of balance) that is caused when we encounter
something that cannot be included within an existing schema.
Accommodation is the process
of modifying a schema to fit a new situation. For example, noticing that a
zebra has stripes, and therefore it is different to a horse – and so they
modify their schema so it can distinguish between a horse and zebra.
EVALUATION OF PIAGET’S NOTION OF SCHEMAS:
Weakness:
P: Other psychologists have contradicted Piaget’s views.
E: Piaget argues that the infant is a ‘lone scientist’ who is actively constructing its own understanding of the world through experiences, independently of other people. However, Vygotsky suggests that the child is an ‘apprentice’ who constructs their knowledge with the help of more knowledgeable members of society.
E: This suggests that Piaget underestimated the importance of social interaction in his explanation of schema development and therefore we must question how valid his entire theory is.
P: Other psychologists have contradicted Piaget’s views.
E: Piaget argues that the infant is a ‘lone scientist’ who is actively constructing its own understanding of the world through experiences, independently of other people. However, Vygotsky suggests that the child is an ‘apprentice’ who constructs their knowledge with the help of more knowledgeable members of society.
E: This suggests that Piaget underestimated the importance of social interaction in his explanation of schema development and therefore we must question how valid his entire theory is.
Weakness:
P: Critics have accused Piaget of describing, rather than explaining, the processes involved in schema development.
E: For example, he describes the process of accommodation but doesn’t actually explain the underlying cognitive processes involved. Additionally, the use of hypothetic structures and processes in his theory raises the issue of falsifiability.
E: Credibility and validity of such theory must be questioned.
P: Critics have accused Piaget of describing, rather than explaining, the processes involved in schema development.
E: For example, he describes the process of accommodation but doesn’t actually explain the underlying cognitive processes involved. Additionally, the use of hypothetic structures and processes in his theory raises the issue of falsifiability.
E: Credibility and validity of such theory must be questioned.
Strength:
P: Schema development has been applied in education.
E: For example, teachers can provide opportunities for independent learning to promote ‘self-discovery’ and teachers can also ask challenging questions to create a state of ‘disequilibrium’ to allow for adaptation and the development of new schemas.
E: Therefore, his theory has been very useful and has plenty of real-life applications.
P: Schema development has been applied in education.
E: For example, teachers can provide opportunities for independent learning to promote ‘self-discovery’ and teachers can also ask challenging questions to create a state of ‘disequilibrium’ to allow for adaptation and the development of new schemas.
E: Therefore, his theory has been very useful and has plenty of real-life applications.
Strength:
P: Piaget’s theory became the starting point for many later theories and research
E: Therefore, it appears to have been extremely influential
E: Schaffer (2004) even believes it to be the most comprehensive account of how children come to understand the world.
P: Piaget’s theory became the starting point for many later theories and research
E: Therefore, it appears to have been extremely influential
E: Schaffer (2004) even believes it to be the most comprehensive account of how children come to understand the world.
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