Which of the following scenarios best illustrates Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development?

• A. An adult who solves complex math problems using advanced calculus.
• B. A child who believes that the amount of liquid changes when it is poured into a differently shaped glass, demonstrating a lack of conservation.
• C. A toddler who repeats words after hearing them from a parent, without understanding their meaning.
• D. A teenager who memorizes historical dates for a test without understanding their significance.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development focuses on how children construct knowledge through stages, emphasizing qualitative changes in thinking as they grow.
2. Identify key concepts in Piaget's theory such as 'conservation,' which is the understanding that certain properties (like volume or number) remain the same despite changes in form or appearance.
3. Analyze each scenario to see which one reflects a developmental stage where a child is learning or struggling with a cognitive concept like conservation.
4. Recognize that the scenario where a child believes the amount of liquid changes when poured into a differently shaped glass illustrates the preoperational stage, where conservation is not yet understood.
5. Conclude that this scenario best exemplifies Piaget's theory because it shows a specific cognitive limitation and developmental milestone described by Piaget.