what would my hypothesis be if i did a research study on piaget's theory on conservation? am struggling?

Answer 1

"Kerry's" response is not appropriate as it refers to the child's grasp of 'object permanence' and not conservation, which is the principle of invariance, i.e. that you can change the appearance of a substance without changing its fundamental quantity (Piaget studies mass, number and volume conservation). I'm not sure if you're saying that you have to do a research study that investigates the same thing as Piaget - if so, you could have the following hypothesis: "children who are 11 years of age will make fewer errors on a test of conservation than children who are 10 years of age". If you have to vary Piaget's study you could alter the conservation tasks - e.g. use more than 6 counters in the number task (as it is quite easy for a young child to count up to 6!).

Good luck.

Answer 2

Piaget's Conservation principle is that, for instance, a stack of pennies is the same value when they are laid out in a row; a ball of clay is the same amount of clay even when it is flatted out; a cup of water is the same amount of water in the cup as when it is poured out in a pan. These LOOK like different amounts when they are changed into different shapes, containers, stacks, etc., and a child has to reach a certain maturation to reason that since nothing has been added to the amounts, they are the same--regardless of the shape etc. Can't remember the age that a young child thinks that the amounts are DIFFERENT and the age when a children realize that the amounts are the same--maybe about 6 or 7 yrs of age? SO, I guess you could have the hypothesis that children younger than 7 yrs will say the amounts are "DIFFERENT"; those older will say "SAME". If you took groups of different ages, you could also pin-point the general age when awareness "dawns". Take a few 3 yr-olds, test them; a group of 4 yr-olds; 5 yr-olds etc. through 8 yr-olds and mark the age group when they first start being unsure and the age group that reaches a consensus indicating that they have reached an understanding of Piaget's Conservation. Sorry if I've belabored the point here.

Answer 3

One such area you might focus on is researching whether or not an infant, a toddler, and an elementary school aged child would be able to remember what it was you were holding in your hand, if you showed it to them, then hid it behind your back. The hypothesis could be the the infant and toddler would not be able to remember what yo had and would therefore loose interest, but that the elementary aged child would indeed remember and try and get the object away from you.....