Which of the following is a commonly cited criticism of Piaget's research on cognitive development?

• A. Piaget's stages are universally accepted without any controversy.
• B. Piaget underestimated the cognitive abilities of young children.
• C. Piaget's theory completely ignores the role of biological maturation.
• D. Piaget focused primarily on adult cognitive processes rather than children's thinking.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of Piaget's theory: Jean Piaget proposed a stage theory of cognitive development, outlining how children's thinking evolves through distinct stages as they grow.
2. Review common criticisms of Piaget's work: One major criticism is that Piaget may have underestimated the cognitive abilities of young children, meaning children can often perform certain tasks earlier than he suggested.
3. Evaluate the given options: The statement that Piaget's stages are universally accepted without controversy is incorrect because his theory has been debated and refined over time.
4. Consider the biological maturation aspect: Piaget's theory does incorporate biological maturation as part of development, so the criticism that it completely ignores this is inaccurate.
5. Recognize the focus of Piaget's research: Piaget primarily studied children's thinking, not adult cognitive processes, so the criticism about focusing on adults is not valid.