The stages of Piaget described in the material are associated with which theory?

• A. Cognitivist Theory
• B. Behaviorist Theory
• C. Constructivist Theory
• D. Sociocultural Theory

Answer: (A)

Piaget’s stages show how a child’s thinking becomes more complex as they actively explore and solve problems. That active construction of knowledge is the heart of Constructivist Theory, which argues learners build new understanding by connecting experiences to what they already know and by reorganizing their mental schemas through assimilation and accommodation. The progression through sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational thinking reflects qualitative shifts driven by the learner’s own activity, not just external reinforcement or social instruction. While cognitivist ideas study how mental processes work, Piaget’s emphasis on self-directed construction of meaning across developmental stages aligns most closely with constructivism.