According to Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory, formal operational thought is most similar to which of the following cognitive abilities?

• A. The inability to understand conservation tasks
• B. The ability to think abstractly and reason hypothetically
• C. The use of trial-and-error to learn object permanence
• D. The reliance on concrete, hands-on experiences for problem-solving

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand Piaget's stages of cognitive development, focusing on the formal operational stage, which typically begins around age 12 and continues into adulthood.
2. Step 2: Recognize that the formal operational stage is characterized by the development of abstract thinking and the ability to reason hypothetically, beyond concrete experiences.
3. Step 3: Compare the options given with the characteristics of the formal operational stage: inability to understand conservation tasks relates to earlier stages, trial-and-error learning of object permanence is from infancy, and reliance on concrete experiences is typical of the concrete operational stage.
4. Step 4: Identify that the ability to think abstractly and reason hypothetically aligns directly with the formal operational stage's cognitive abilities.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct match for formal operational thought is the ability to think abstractly and reason hypothetically.