Question 1

According to Piaget, which of the following best describes the main cognitive achievement of the sensorimotor stage?

Accepted Answer

Acquisition of object permanence

Question 2

Which substage of Piaget’s sensorimotor stage is characterized by the infant’s ability to use mental symbols to solve problems?

Accepted Answer

Substage 6 (18–24 months)

Question 3

A 10-month-old baby searches for a toy under a blanket where it was previously hidden, even after seeing it moved to a new location. This behavior is known as:

Accepted Answer

A-not-B error

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a secondary circular reaction?

Accepted Answer

A baby shakes a rattle to hear the sound it makes.

Question 5

What is the main criticism of Piaget’s explanation of infant cognitive development based on more recent research?

Accepted Answer

He underestimated infants’ cognitive abilities.

Question 6

Which research method did Elizabeth Spelke use to demonstrate infants’ understanding of object properties?

Accepted Answer

Violation-of-expectations method

Question 7

Deferred imitation requires which cognitive ability?

Accepted Answer

Internal mental representation

Question 8

Which of the following best illustrates tertiary circular reactions?

Accepted Answer

A baby tries different ways to get a toy out from under a couch.

Question 9

According to research by Baillargeon, what do infants as young as 4 months demonstrate regarding object permanence?

Accepted Answer

They show signs of object permanence through looking-time studies.

Question 10

Which of the following is a real-world example of means-end behavior in infants?

Accepted Answer

A baby pulls a blanket to bring a toy closer.

Question 11

What is the connected-surface principle as described by Spelke?

Accepted Answer

The assumption that two connected objects belong to the same object.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the process of object permanence according to recent theorizing?

Accepted Answer

A gradual process of elaboration based on experience

Question 13

A researcher hides a toy under box A several times, then moves it under box B while the infant watches. The infant still looks under box A. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A-not-B error

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of substage 1 (0–1 month) of Piaget’s sensorimotor stage?

Accepted Answer

Ability to imitate facial gestures

Question 15

Which of the following statements about imitation in infancy is supported by research?

Accepted Answer

Imitation of hand movements begins around 1–2 months.

Question 16

According to Leslie Cohen, infants’ responses to objects are primarily based on:

Accepted Answer

The novelty of the stimuli

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the role of modeling in infant learning?

Accepted Answer

Infants can learn new behaviors by observing others.

Question 18

Which of the following milestones is associated with the ability to solve problems by thinking about them, rather than through trial and error?

Accepted Answer

Beginning of mental representation

Question 19

Which of the following is a plausible explanation for why Piaget may have underestimated infants’ cognitive abilities?

Accepted Answer

He used tasks that required fine motor skills infants had not yet developed.

Cognitive Development in Infancy: Piaget’s Sensorimotor Stage and Beyond

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