IB Psychology SL : Developmental psychology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for IB Psychology SL

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Options

Five-year-old Jane uses words, images, and symbols to understand her world. She cannot yet reason logically and is egocentric. Which of Jean Piaget's developmental stages is Jane most likely experiencing?

Possible Answers:

Preoperational

Sensorimotor

Object permanence

Concrete operational

Formal operational

Correct answer:

Preoperational

Explanation:

Jane is in the preoperational stage of development, which occurs between ages two and seven. During this stage a child is egocentric, or unable to understand the perspective of others, and uses imagery and symbols. Sensorimotor is the first stage that occurs from birth to age two. During this stage a child uses the senses and develops object permanence, or the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. Note that object permanence is not a stage. The concrete operational stage occurs from ages seven to eleven. During this stage a child develops conservation, where a he or she understands that a substance does not change size just because its form changes. The formal operational stage occurs after age eleven and involves abstract logic and reasoning. 

Example Question #4 : Options

Five-year-old Jane uses words, images, and symbols to understand her world. She cannot yet reason logically and is egocentric. Which of Jean Piaget's developmental stages is Jane most likely experiencing?

Possible Answers:

Preoperational

Concrete operational

Object permanence

Formal operational

Sensorimotor

Correct answer:

Preoperational

Explanation:

Jane is in the preoperational stage of development, which occurs between ages two and seven. During this stage a child is egocentric, or unable to understand the perspective of others, and uses imagery and symbols. Sensorimotor is the first stage that occurs from birth to age two. During this stage a child uses the senses and develops object permanence, or the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. Note that object permanence is not a stage. The concrete operational stage occurs from ages seven to eleven. During this stage a child develops conservation, where a he or she understands that a substance does not change size just because its form changes. The formal operational stage occurs after age eleven and involves abstract logic and reasoning. 

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