A teacher carries out a classroom replication of Piaget’s conservation of number task with separate age groups. Each child is asked whether two rows contain the same number of counters, then asked again after one row is spread out. The table shows how many children said the number was unchanged and gave a reason for their answer.
| Age group | Children who said the number was unchanged and gave a reason | Total children |
|---|---|---|
| 3–4 years | 1 | 10 |
| 5–6 years | 3 | 10 |
| 7 years and above | 8 | 10 |
The teacher then tests a new group of children aged 3–4 years. This time, after the first question, one row is pushed closer together so that it is shorter than the other row, and the same question is asked again.
Explain what the pattern in the table suggests about the development of conservation of number. Suggest how most children in the new group of 3–4-year-olds might respond and explain your prediction.
104 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Psychology 2.2 Theories/Explanations, covering 2.2.1 Piaget's four invariant stages, 2.2.2 Assimilation and accommodation, 2.2.3 Object permanence, animism, egocentrism, 2.2.4 Decentration, reversibility, conservation; criticisms, 2.2.5 Cognitive Development research study: Piaget (1952), 2.2.6 Dweck's fixed and growth mindsets, 2.2.7 Willingham's learning styles and meaning; criticisms, and 2.2.8 Learning research study: Blackwell et al. (2007). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.