A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What is a characteristic of children in the Concrete Operational Stage according to Piaget?

1. Ability to think abstractly

2. Understanding of reversible operations

3. Inability to distinguish between categories

4. Heightened focus on ideological issues

The correct answer is: Understanding of reversible operations

Children in the Concrete Operational Stage, which typically ranges from ages 7 to 11, demonstrate the ability to understand reversible operations. This means they can effectively manipulate and understand the properties of objects mathematically. For instance, they grasp that if you have a set of objects and then change their arrangement, the quantity remains the same; this reflects their growing understanding of conservation. Their thought processes become more logical and organized, though still grounded in concrete experiences rather than abstract ideas. This is why children in this stage are capable of performing operations such as addition and subtraction mentally, but may struggle with hypothetical or abstract reasoning, which characterizes later stages of cognitive development. The other options reflect characteristics not found in this stage. This understanding of reversible operations marks a significant development in cognitive ability, shifting from a purely intuitive approach to one that incorporates logical reasoning elements based on tangible experiences.