Question

Consult your online resources for additional practice. Which of the following terms describes how existing schemata are modified to incorporate new information? (A) Assimilation (B) Adaptation (C) Affirmation (D) Accommodation

Short answer

Accommodation

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the question

The question asks to identify the term that describes the modification of existing schemata to incorporate new information.

- Define the terms

Analyze the provided terms: $\text{Assimilation}$ - the process of taking in new information into our already existing schemas. $\text{Adaptation}$ - the overall process of adjusting schemas based on new experiences. $\text{Affirmation}$ - asserting a statement or belief. $\text{Accommodation}$ - the process of altering existing schemas to fit new information.

- Match definitions to question

From the definitions: $\text{Accommodation}$ closely matches the requirement of modifying existing schema to incorporate new information.

- Confirm the answer

Through elimination and matching definitions, the correct term is $\text{Accommodation}$.

Key concepts

Schemata Modification

Schemata modification refers to the changes in an individual's cognitive framework to help understand new information. Schemas are mental constructs that help organize and interpret information. As we experience new things, it's crucial to update our existing schemas.
For instance, imagine you have a schema for birds as creatures that can fly. When you learn about penguins, which are birds that don't fly, you need to modify your existing bird schema to include this new information.

This process ensures our understanding remains accurate and comprehensive. It helps in better aligning our knowledge and experiences.

Assimilation vs Accommodation

Assimilation and accommodation are key processes in cognitive development. While they both involve integrating new information into our cognitive structures, they do so in different ways.

• Assimilation: This is the process of taking in new information and incorporating it into our existing schema without changing the schema. For example, if a child knows what a dog is and then sees a new breed of dog, they will assimilate this new dog into their existing dog schema.


• Accommodation: This involves altering our existing schema to fit new information. When the information doesn't fit into our existing schemas, we adjust those schemas. Like our earlier example with birds and penguins, the bird schema has to be altered to accommodate the knowledge of non-flying birds.

Cognitive Development

Cognitive development is the progression of thinking, problem-solving, and understanding over a lifetime. It's closely associated with how we acquire knowledge and how our mental processes evolve.
Infants start with basic cognitive abilities and, through stages, develop more complex understanding. This process includes:

• Sensorimotor stage: From birth to 2 years, learning occurs through sensory experiences and manipulating objects.


• Preoperational stage: Ages 2 to 7, characterized by the development of language and symbolic thinking yet lacks logical reasoning.


• Concrete operational stage: Ages 7 to 11, thinking becomes more logical and organized, but still concrete.


• Formal operational stage: Begins at age 12 and continues into adulthood, where abstract thought and problem-solving skills are honed.

Each cognitive development stage builds upon the previous one, enabling a deeper understanding of the world.