Evaluation of Piaget
Psychology: AQA A Level, topic 11.1.6
Evaluation of Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
Piaget was massively influential in the study of child development. But as with any theory, there were critiques.
Strengths - cultural validity
- A strength of Piaget’s theory was the fact that it was cross-cultural.
- Studies conducted in other countries with different ethnicities showed similar results.
- Children from all over progressed through his four stages in similar ways.
Weaknesses
- Weaknesses of Piaget’s theory include:
- Underestimation of abilities.
- No reference to teaching or practice.
- Questionable methodology.
- Underestimation of the importance of language.
Underestimation of abilities
- For several of the skills, Piaget underestimated the skills of the children.
- For example, the Naughty teddy study (McGarrigle and Donaldson (1974)), showed that younger children could in fact understand conservation.
No reference to teaching or practice
- Piaget states that teaching and practice would not push the children through the stages any faster.
- But teaching can move the children through the stages faster.
- For example, the teaching of algebra (an abstract and complex skill), can be taught to younger children in the concrete operational stage.
Questionable methodology
- Piaget recorded results via observation and interviews (qualitative data).
- Qualitative data can be subjective due to bias.
- So his methodology has been called into question.
Importance of language
- Finally, Piaget believed that for language to develop, cognitive development must happen first.
- Other psychologists such as Vygotsky disagreed.
- Vygotsky, opposing Piaget, did think language was important for cognitive development.
Test yourself on Evaluation of Piaget
Which of these studies suggested that Piaget underestimated the abilities of children?