Which of the following statements is true of Piaget's preoperational stage of cognitive development?

• A. Children in the preoperational stage can perform complex logical operations such as deductive reasoning.
• B. Children in the preoperational stage are able to think symbolically but struggle with understanding the perspectives of others.
• C. Children in the preoperational stage consistently demonstrate conservation of quantity and volume.
• D. Children in the preoperational stage are limited to reflexive and sensorimotor behaviors.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of Piaget's stages of cognitive development, focusing on the preoperational stage, which typically occurs between ages 2 and 7.
2. Step 2: Recall that during the preoperational stage, children develop symbolic thinking, which means they can use words, images, and symbols to represent objects and experiences.
3. Step 3: Recognize that children in this stage struggle with perspective-taking, meaning they often have difficulty understanding viewpoints different from their own (egocentrism).
4. Step 4: Note that children in the preoperational stage do not yet consistently demonstrate conservation—the understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance—which develops in the next stage (concrete operational).
5. Step 5: Eliminate options that describe abilities beyond this stage, such as complex logical operations (deductive reasoning) or being limited to reflexive and sensorimotor behaviors, which belong to other stages.