Piaget’s Schema & Learning Theory: 3 Fascinating Experiments

Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, is well-known for his groundbreaking work in the field of child development. His theory of cognitive development suggests that children go through four stages of intellectual growth, each marked by distinct cognitive abilities. One key concept in Piaget’s theory is the idea of a schema, which is a mental concept that helps us organize and interpret information about the world. Through a series of fascinating experiments, Piaget was able to demonstrate how children’s schemas develop and evolve over time.

1. Conservation of liquid experiment: In this classic experiment, Piaget tested children’s understanding of the conservation of liquid. Children were shown two equal-sized glasses of liquid and were asked if they contained the same amount of liquid. When the liquid from one of the glasses was poured into a taller, narrower glass, children typically believed that the taller glass now contained more liquid. This suggested that younger children lack the ability to understand the concept of conservation, as they focus solely on the perceptual changes in the appearance of the liquid rather than the actual quantity.

2. Object permanence experiment: Piaget’s object permanence experiment tested infants’ understanding of object permanence, which is the idea that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight. In the experiment, infants were shown a toy being hidden under a blanket. Piaget found that younger infants would not look for the toy once it was hidden, indicating that they lacked the concept of object permanence. As infants grow older and develop more sophisticated schemas, they begin to understand that objects exist independently of their own perceptions.

3. Class inclusion experiment: Piaget’s class inclusion experiment tested children’s ability to understand hierarchical relationships in groups of objects. Children were shown a set of objects, such as dogs and animals, and were asked if there were more dogs or more animals in the set. Younger children tended to focus on the dogs as a subcategory and would say there were more dogs, failing to recognize that dogs are also a type of animal. This demonstrated that younger children struggle with understanding class inclusion and hierarchical relationships within categories.

Overall, Piaget’s experiments shed light on how children’s cognitive development progresses from infancy to adolescence. Through the assimilation and accommodation of new information, children are able to construct and refine their schemas, ultimately leading to a more sophisticated understanding of the world around them. Piaget’s work continues to be influential in the field of child development and education, providing valuable insights into how children learn and grow.