Piaget’s Cognitive Piaget’s Cognitive DevelopmentDevelopment

Infant LearningInfant LearningAction = KnowledgeAction = KnowledgeKnowledge is a product of motor Knowledge is a product of motor behaviorbehaviorAs infants experience changes in As infants experience changes in what they can & can’t do, they what they can & can’t do, they develop cognitivelydevelop cognitivelySchemesSchemes: : organized patterns of organized patterns of functioning that adapt & change functioning that adapt & change with mental developmentwith mental developmentAssimilationAssimilation: : taking in information taking in information that is compatible with what is that is compatible with what is already knownalready knownAccommodationAccommodation: : modifying modifying existing knowledge to fit a existing knowledge to fit a particular schemeparticular scheme

Piaget’s Piaget’s Sensorimotor Sensorimotor

StageStageSubstagesSubstages0 – 1 Month

Exercising inborn reflexes

1 – 4 Months

Primary circular reactions

4 – 8 Months

Secondary circular reactions

8 – 12 Months

Coordination of secondary circular reactions

12 – 18 Months

Tertiary circular reactions

18 – 24 Months

The beginnings of thought

Appraising PiagetAppraising PiagetPro

Descriptions of cognitive development are generally

accurate

Excellent observations of children

Children learn by acting on their world

Con

Parts of theories not verified by research

Stages not stop-&-go

Development is grounded in motor activity

Infants imitate facial expressions

Based on Western cultures

Information Processing

Based on ways Based on ways information is taken information is taken in, used, & storedin, used, & storedInfants develop cognitively via the ways they use their abilities to organize & manipulate information

Cognitive growth is characterized by

increasing sophistication, speed, &

capacity for information processing

Encoding, Storing, & Encoding, Storing, & Retrieving InformationRetrieving InformationEncoding

Process where information is recorded in a form useable to rememberStoring

Placing material into memoryRetrieving

Process by which stored information is located, brought to awareness, & used

Infant MemoryInfant MemoryMemory CapabilitiesMemory CapabilitiesSome memory capacities existSome memory capacities existCapabilities increase with ageCapabilities increase with ageThe more memory is retrieved the The more memory is retrieved the stronger it becomesstronger it becomes

Duration of MemoriesDuration of MemoriesInfantile amnesiaInfantile amnesia

Lack of memory for Lack of memory for experience experience prior to 3 years of prior to 3 years of ageageInfants do retain memoriesInfants do retain memoriesMemories are influenced by Memories are influenced by interferenceinterferenceInfant memories do not last into Infant memories do not last into adulthoodadulthood

Memory SystemsMemory SystemsExplicit MemoryInformation purposely committed to memory

Can be recalled by Can be recalled by conscious conscious

recollectionrecollection

Implicit MemoryInformation not purposely committed to memory

Motor skills, habits, Motor skills, habits, etc.etc.

Does not involve Does not involve conscious conscious efforteffort

IntelligenceIntelligenceDevelopmental Developmental ScalesScalesUsed to measure infant development

Gives a developmental quotientMotor skills, language

use, adaptive behavior, personal- socialBayley Scales of Infant Development

Focus is on mental & motor abilities

Not predictive of future development

Individual Differences in Individual Differences in IntelligenceIntelligence

Intelligence is Seen as a Intelligence is Seen as a Gradual, Step-by-Step GrowthGradual, Step-by-Step GrowthVisual-recognition memoryVisual-recognition memory

Memory & recognition of a stimulusMemory & recognition of a stimulus

Faster the recognition presumed more efficient memoryFaster the recognition presumed more efficient memory

Multimodal approach to perceptionMultimodal approach to perception

The ability to identify a stimulus previously experienced in one The ability to identify a stimulus previously experienced in one sense sense through anotherthrough another

LanguageLanguageA systematic, meaningful arrangement A systematic, meaningful arrangement of symbols providing the basis for of symbols providing the basis for communicationcommunicationTermsTermsPhonology

The basic sounds of a languageMorphemes

The smallest language unit that has meaningSemantics

The rules that govern the meaning of words &

sentencesComprehension

The understanding of speechLinguistic Production

The use of a language to communicate

Prelinguistic CommunicationPrelinguistic CommunicationCommunication via sounds, imitation, etc.

Babbling: Making speech-like, meaningless sounds

Begins around 1 yearFollows a progression from simple to more complex

soundsFrom 6 months babbling resembles sounds of the

language the infant is exposed toSpeed of homing in on their

own language is related to the speed of later language development

First WordsFirst WordsOccurs 10 – 14 Occurs 10 – 14 MonthsMonthsDefining 1Defining 1stst words is difficult words is difficult

HolophrasesHolophrasesOne-word utterances that stand as a One-word utterances that stand as a complete phrasecomplete phrase

2-word phrases occur 8 -12 months2-word phrases occur 8 -12 months

First SentencesFirst SentencesOccurs about 18 monthsOccurs about 18 months

Telegraphic speech: Leaving out non-Telegraphic speech: Leaving out non-critical wordscritical words

Underextension: Defining words too Underextension: Defining words too narrowlynarrowly

Overextension: Defining words too Overextension: Defining words too broadlybroadly

Approaches to Approaches to Language LearningLanguage Learning

Learning Theory ApproachLanguage acquired through reinforcement & Language acquired through reinforcement & conditioning procedures: Shapingconditioning procedures: ShapingDoesn’t explain how children acquire the Doesn’t explain how children acquire the rules of languagerules of language

Nativist ApproachLanguage is an innate skillLanguage is an innate skillThere is a “language acquisition device” There is a “language acquisition device” Language is prewired in the human brainLanguage is prewired in the human brain

Permits the understanding of Permits the understanding of language & provides a set of language & provides a set of strategies & techniques for strategies & techniques for

learninglearning a particular languagea particular languageThere is a genetic predisposition There is a genetic predisposition

for for language comprehension & language comprehension & productionproduction

Interactionist ApproachLanguage development is produced via a Language development is produced via a combination of genetic predispositions & combination of genetic predispositions & environmental circumstancesenvironmental circumstancesThe course of language development is The course of language development is determined by language exposure & determined by language exposure & reinforcementreinforcement

Speaking to ChildrenInfant-Directed SpeechInfant-Directed Speech

A style of speech characterizing A style of speech characterizing much of verbal communications much of verbal communications directed toward infantsdirected toward infants

““Motherese”Motherese”Infants exposed to Infant-Directed Speech Infants exposed to Infant-Directed Speech apparently begin to use words & exhibit apparently begin to use words & exhibit linguistic competence soonerlinguistic competence sooner