Development - 1.2 Studies: 1.2.1 Piaget and Inhelder (1956) Three…

The idea

Piaget and Inhelder (1956) investigated the age children stop being egocentric. The procedure involved 100 children aged 4 to 12. They were shown a 3D model of three mountains, each with a distinct feature (snow, a cross, or a house). A doll was placed at various positions, and the child selected a picture representing the doll's perspective. Findings showed children aged 4 to 5 consistently chose their own view, demonstrating egocentrism. By age 7 to 8, children began selecting the doll's view. This supported Piaget's theory that pre-operational children are egocentric. A strength is the detailed qualitative data gathered by asking children to explain their choices, while a weakness is the artificial task lacking ecological validity.

What earns the marks

• State the aim of Piaget and Inhelder's study as investigating egocentrism in children.
• Describe the procedure involving the 3D model of three mountains and the doll.
• Identify that children aged 4 to 5 typically chose the picture representing their own perspective.
• Explain the conclusion that the study supports the transition from egocentrism in the pre-operational stage to decentration in the concrete operational stage.
• Evaluate the study by noting a strength (e.g., rich qualitative data from children's explanations) and a weakness (e.g., lack of ecological validity due to the artificial task).

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Stating that the study investigated conservation.

  Put it right: The Three mountains task specifically investigated egocentrism, not conservation.

• Claiming that all children failed the task.

  Put it right: Older children (aged 7 and above) were increasingly able to correctly identify the doll's perspective.

• Confusing the features of the mountains.

  Put it right: The three mountains were distinguished by having snow, a red cross, and a house on top, not by size alone.

Exam tips

• Memorise the specific features of the three mountains (snow, cross, house) to accurately describe the procedure.
• Use the term 'egocentrism' explicitly when explaining the results of the younger children.
• When evaluating the study, contrast the strength of gathering rich qualitative data with the weakness of the task's artificial nature.