Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development includes which period?

1. Sensorimotor period

2. Post-operational period

3. Advanced operations

4. Pre-sensorimotor period

The correct answer is: Sensorimotor period

Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development outlines several distinct stages through which children progress as they develop their cognitive abilities. The sensorimotor period, which is the correct answer, spans from birth to approximately two years of age. During this time, infants learn about the world primarily through their senses and motor actions. They begin to understand the concept of object permanence and develop basic motor skills through interactions with their environment. This foundational stage is critical because it sets the groundwork for later cognitive development. Children engage in exploratory play and start to form the beginnings of mental representations of the world around them, which are essential for future learning and development in subsequent stages such as the preoperational and concrete operational periods. The other choices do not accurately reflect the recognized stages in Piaget’s theory. The post-operational period is not a term used in Piaget's framework, advanced operations is not a recognized stage, and the pre-sensorimotor period does not exist as an identifiable stage in cognitive development according to Piaget. Thus, the sensorimotor period holds significance as a critical phase in understanding Piagetian development.