Description
“At birth, an infant can perform only simple reflex behaviors. Two years after birth, the child is typically beginning to talk (symbolic representation) and has clearly evolved intellectual operations and is beginning to “think”. Wadsworth (2004), p. 33.
How does this development evolve?
1. Find several infants of different ages (from the attached list of videos or live infants) to describe and assess. If you have a “real” infant at a particular age, use him/her. You can work in groups of 2 or 3 and turn in one group assignment if you wish. If you take this option, don’t split up the assignment, but do each infant write-up together as a group. Discussion is very important.
2. Using chapter 3 from Wadsworth and class notes and the list of videos, assess at least one infant on concepts of object permanence at each (or most) of the following ages/stages”
Stage 1: birth – 30 days Reflex Activity (optional)
Stage 2: 1-4 months First Differentiations–Primary Circular Reactions
Stage 3: 4-8 months Reproductions of Interesting Events—Secondary Circular Reactions
Stage 4: 9-12 months Coordination of Schemata–Coordination of Secondary Schemes
Stage 5: 12-18 months Invention of New Means–Tertiary Circular Reactions
Stage 6: 18-24 months Representation (optional)
3. Write up your observations in the following manner in order:
Your name(s)
Date
Location of Assessment(s) and ages/stages of interviewed infants
1. Describe the materials used for the assessment(s).
2. Give the age and gender of each infant tested.
3. Describe the interview for each infant at each age/stage. How was it done?
4. Describe the reaction of the infants to each interview procedure. What did the infant do/how did the infant react?
5. Describe your assessment of infant cognitive development as a result of administering the interviews. Use the language Piaget used to describe infant behavior at each sub-stage from Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 and in Wadsworth (e.g., “secondary circular reactions”, assimilation, accommodation, schemata, etc.). What did you think of (and about) this assignment? Give your insights into infant thinking? What did you learn?