According to Piaget's cognitive-developmental theory, a scheme is __________.

• A. an organized pattern of thought or behavior used to interpret and respond to experiences
• B. a learned response to a stimulus through classical conditioning
• C. a fixed set of genetic instructions that determine intelligence
• D. a specific memory of a past event

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Piaget's cognitive-developmental theory focuses on how children develop thinking and understanding over time through active interaction with their environment.
2. Recognize that a 'scheme' (or schema) in Piaget's theory refers to a mental structure or framework that helps individuals organize and interpret information.
3. Identify that schemes are not just simple learned responses or fixed genetic instructions, but rather organized patterns of thought or behavior.
4. Note that schemes are used by individuals to make sense of new experiences by fitting them into existing cognitive frameworks or by adjusting those frameworks.
5. Conclude that the best description of a scheme is 'an organized pattern of thought or behavior used to interpret and respond to experiences,' which aligns with Piaget's definition.