A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What is emphasized in the Concrete Operational Stage in terms of understanding properties of objects?

1. Abstract reasoning

2. Reversible transformations

3. Mental manipulation of multiple variables

4. Understanding abstract concepts and hypotheses

The correct answer is: Reversible transformations

In the Concrete Operational Stage, which typically occurs between the ages of 7 to 11 years according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the emphasis is indeed on reversible transformations. This stage is characterized by the ability to think logically about concrete events and to understand the concept of conservation—that is, the understanding that certain properties of objects, like volume and mass, remain the same even when their form changes. Children in this stage are able to perform mental operations that apply to physical objects in the real world. For example, they can understand that if a ball of clay is flattened, the amount of clay does not change, demonstrating reversible thinking. This ability to reverse transformations is a key aspect of their cognitive development at this age, allowing them to solve problems involving conservation and classification of objects. The other options—abstract reasoning, mental manipulation of multiple variables, and understanding abstract concepts and hypotheses—become more prominent in later stages, particularly in Piaget's Formal Operational Stage, which begins around age 12. Hence, the focus in the Concrete Operational Stage on reversible transformations is critical to understanding children's cognitive abilities during this period.