The Work of Jean Piaget Essay example -- psychology education genetic

The Work of Jean Piaget Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, was a pioneer in the field of developmental psychology. He developed many fields of science, but is recognised primarily for his contribution to the field of genetic epistemology (the theory of knowledge). He believed that there was a biological explanation for the development of knowledge, and that children had their own processes of learning, and their thought processes were separate and distinct from adults. He developed a broad theory, based on his studies of children, which described four main stages in the learning process. He began studying children and the development of knowledge when he moved to Paris and began working on the Simon-Binet intelligence study, and this was the foundation for his later work. His work with children was a major part of his life up until his death, in 1980. Piaget's theory forms the basis of many educational principles used in the present day, and has greatly expanded our understanding of the way in which knowledge is acquired. He believed that children created their own theories of the world, and were constantly testing those theories, in order to develop their understanding of the world. This was in direct contrast to the generally-held belief at that time that children should be taught by rote, that simple repetition would ensure knowledge and that children were merely 'empty vessels waiting to be filled'[1]. Although there has been some criticism of his method and interpretation from other psychologists, there is general acceptance of the four cognitive periods outlined in his theory and his work has inspired further in-depth resear... ...s in the field of human intelligence today. Bibliography: Books ===== An Introduction to Piaget, P.G. Richmond, 1970 Routledge (London) Jean Piaget: Psychologist of the Real, Brian Rotman, 1977 Harvester Press(Sussex) Internet ======== www.time.com/time/time100/scientist/profile/piaget.html www.dmu.ac.uk/~jamesa/learning/piaget.htm www.uea.ac.uk/menu/acad_depts/edu/learn/morphett/piaget.htm www.indiana.edu/~intell/piaget.shtml www.piaget.org/aboutpiaget.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] www.time.com/time/time100/scientist/profile/piaget.html [2] An Introduction to Piaget, P.G. Richmond, 1970 Routledge (London), p. 65. [3] Ibid, p. 12 [4] Ibid, p.53. [5] Rose and Blank (1974) and Samuel and Bryant (1984) The Work of Jean Piaget Essay example -- psychology education genetic The Work of Jean Piaget Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, was a pioneer in the field of developmental psychology. He developed many fields of science, but is recognised primarily for his contribution to the field of genetic epistemology (the theory of knowledge). He believed that there was a biological explanation for the development of knowledge, and that children had their own processes of learning, and their thought processes were separate and distinct from adults. He developed a broad theory, based on his studies of children, which described four main stages in the learning process. He began studying children and the development of knowledge when he moved to Paris and began working on the Simon-Binet intelligence study, and this was the foundation for his later work. His work with children was a major part of his life up until his death, in 1980. Piaget's theory forms the basis of many educational principles used in the present day, and has greatly expanded our understanding of the way in which knowledge is acquired. He believed that children created their own theories of the world, and were constantly testing those theories, in order to develop their understanding of the world. This was in direct contrast to the generally-held belief at that time that children should be taught by rote, that simple repetition would ensure knowledge and that children were merely 'empty vessels waiting to be filled'[1]. Although there has been some criticism of his method and interpretation from other psychologists, there is general acceptance of the four cognitive periods outlined in his theory and his work has inspired further in-depth resear... ...s in the field of human intelligence today. Bibliography: Books ===== An Introduction to Piaget, P.G. Richmond, 1970 Routledge (London) Jean Piaget: Psychologist of the Real, Brian Rotman, 1977 Harvester Press(Sussex) Internet ======== www.time.com/time/time100/scientist/profile/piaget.html www.dmu.ac.uk/~jamesa/learning/piaget.htm www.uea.ac.uk/menu/acad_depts/edu/learn/morphett/piaget.htm www.indiana.edu/~intell/piaget.shtml www.piaget.org/aboutpiaget.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] www.time.com/time/time100/scientist/profile/piaget.html [2] An Introduction to Piaget, P.G. Richmond, 1970 Routledge (London), p. 65. [3] Ibid, p. 12 [4] Ibid, p.53. [5] Rose and Blank (1974) and Samuel and Bryant (1984)