Download Piaget`s Theory—Decentering Attention Lab 2.1

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Human Motor Development
Piaget’s Theory—Decentering
Attention
Lab 2.1
Purpose
To consider the efficacy of specific aspects of Piaget’s theory of
cognitive development and how cognitive development affects the
development of human movement.
Procedure
These tests may be conducted in class if young children are available
from, for example, an on-campus child development center. If not,
this lab can be completed as an out-of-class assignment. Using three
children of various ages (e.g., 5, 7, 9 or 4, 6, and 8 years), perform
four of Piaget’s simple, but important, classic tests. Be careful, in each case, not to insult the intelligence
of any of the children or make them feel foolish for answering the way they did.
Record your findings for each of the four tests on the appropriate worksheet. In each case, explain
your conclusions based on the results of each individual test using the discussion questions at the end of
the lab.
Reversibility
Independently test each child. Have each child roll the
balls through the tube in a pre-determined order (e.g., a, b,
c). Just prior to rolling the balls through the tube have them
predict the order in which the balls will exit the tube. Then,
reverse the process. Have them roll the balls back through the
tube in the reverse order (see page 32 of the text). Note, the
exit end of the tube now becomes the entrance end. Again,
ask the child the order in which the balls will exit. Exit order
Materials Needed
• small tube approximately
12” to 18” in length
• 3 small balls, all the
same size and small
enough to easily roll
through the tube. Ideally,
each ball will be a
different color. If they
are all the same color,
number (1, 2, 3) or
letter (A, B, C) them to
differentiate the balls.
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Lab 2.1
Human Motor Development
Lab 2.1
Procedure, continued
a, b, c will now become c, b, a. Record the child’s answer and compare it to the answers given by older and
younger children.
Conservation of Weight
Again, test each child independently. While they are watching
you, show them the ball of clay in the palm of your hand. Then,
as they continue to watch, roll the ball of clay into a sausage
shape. Then, ask the child, “Does the clay weigh more as the
ball or as the sausage, or are they the same?” Ask them why they
Material Needed
• 1 small piece of clay
(e.g., Play-Doh)
approximately 2 to 3
inches in circumference.
think that or to explain their answer.
Conservation of Number
Again, test each child independently. Place five pennies
in a row two inches on center. One inch below them, place a
second row of pennies, four inches on center, with the center
Materials
Needed
• 10 pennies
pennies from both rows being directly aligned in center as in the
following diagram:
Now, simply ask the child which line of pennies contains more coins, or if they are the same. Then ask them
why they think that or how they explain their answer.
Watch the video to view a test of conservation of number.
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Lab 2.1
Human Motor Development
Lab 2.1
Procedure, continued
Conservation of Volume
Using two matching glasses, fill both half full with the
same amount of water (use colored water if possible). Ask
each child, independently, which beaker has more water, or
if they are the same. Most children will perceive they are the
same. Then, pour the water from one of the glasses into a taller,
thinner glass or beaker. Now, both beakers contain the same
volume of water, but the water level of the taller, thinner glass
Materials Needed
• 3 glasses, vials, or
chemistry-like beakers,
with two being the same
size and the third being
taller and thinner.
• Water, colored if
possible.
or beaker will be higher. Ask each child, independently, which
beaker contains more water, or if they are both the same. Then, ask each child how they arrived at this answer.
View the video to view a test of conservation of volume.
Record your findings for all four of the tests on the appropriate worksheet. In each case, explain your
conclusions based on the results of each individual test. What would you conclude when looking at the
overall findings from all four tests? How do your findings compare to what Piaget believed and concluded as
determined by the establishment of his four major stages of cognitive development and the approximate ages of
each? Do you agree or disagree with Piaget and his theory? Explain how you agree or disagree. Last, using your
results and conclusions, how might the cognitive performance of the children affect their motor development or
performance on movement activities? Give several examples to support your assumptions.
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Lab 2.1
Human Motor Development
WORKSHEET 2.1 A
Piaget’s Theory—Decentering
Attention: Reversibility Results
Name: _________________________________________
Date: ________________
Participant 1
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly predict exit order of balls? YES______ NO______
4. If not, what was his/her response? ______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
Participant 2
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly predict exit order of balls? YES______ NO______
4. If not, what was his/her response? ______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
Participant 3
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly predict exit order of balls? YES______ NO______
4. If not, what was his/her response? ______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
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Lab 2.1
Human Motor Development
WORKSHEET 2.1 B
Piaget’s Theory—Decentering
Attention: Conservation of
Weight Results
Name: _________________________________________
Date: ________________
Participant 1
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly respond to the question: “in which condition did the clay weigh more”?
YES______
NO______
4. How did they explain their response? ___________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
Participant 2
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly respond to the question: “in which condition did the clay weigh more”?
YES______
NO______
4. How did they explain their response? ___________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
Participant 3
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly respond to the question: “in which condition did the clay weigh more”?
YES______
NO______
4. How did they explain their response? ___________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
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Lab 2.1
Human Motor Development
WORKSHEET 2.1 C
Piaget’s Theory—Decentering
Attention: Conservation of
Number Results
Name: _________________________________________
Date: ________________
Participant 1
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly respond to the question: “which line of pennies contained more
pennies”? YES______ NO______
4. If not, what was his/her response? ______________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
Participant 2
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly respond to the question: “which line of pennies contained more
pennies”? YES______ NO______
4. If not, what was his/her response? ______________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
Participant 3
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly respond to the question: “which line of pennies contained more
pennies”? YES______ NO______
4. If not, what was his/her response? ______________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
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Lab 2.1
Human Motor Development
WORKSHEET 2.1 D
Piaget’s Theory—Decentering
Attention: Conservation of
Volume Results
Name: _________________________________________
Date: ________________
Participant 1
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly respond to the question: ““which container holds more water”?
YES______
NO______
4. If not, what was his/her response? ______________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
Participant 2
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly respond to the question: “which container holds more water”?
YES______
NO______
4. If not, what was his/her response? ______________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
Participant 3
1. Age: ______
2. Brief description: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Did the participant correctly respond to the question: “which container holds more water”?
YES______
NO______
4. If not, what was his/her response? ______________________________________________________
5. According to Piaget, what might this say about the child’s level of cognitive development?
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Lab 2.1
Human Motor Development
Discussion
1. What would you conclude when looking at the overall findings from all four tests?
2. How do your findings compare to what Piaget believed and concluded as determined by the
establishment of his four major stages of cognitive development and the approximate ages of each?
3. Do you agree or disagree with Piaget and his theory? Explain how you agree or disagree.
4. Using your results and conclusions, how might the cognitive performance of the children affect their
motor development or performance on movement activities? Give several examples to support your
assumptions.
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