Evaluate one or more theories of cognitive development.

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials.

The command term “evaluate” requires candidates to make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations of one or more theories of cognitive development. Although a discussion of both strengths and limitations is required, it does not have to be evenly balanced to gain high marks.

Theories may include, but are not limited to:

• Piaget's theory of cognitive development
• Vygotsky's theory of sociocultural cognition
• Kohlberg's theory of moral development
• Bruner's theory suggesting that thinking is the result of cognitive development
• the information-processing approach to cognitive development
• neurobiological explanations of cognitive development.

Research studies may include, but are not limited to:

• Piaget and Inhelder's (1956) three mountain study
• Bower and Wishart's (1977) study on object permanence
• Samuel and Bryant's (1984) study on conservation experiment
• Chi's (1978) study on processing skills
• Waber's (1987); Giedd's (2004) MRI studies on normal brain development
• Saxe et al.'s (1987) study on the zone of proximal development
• Wood et al.'s (1976) study on the role of tutoring in problem solving.

Evaluation may include, but is not limited to:

• methodological and ethical considerations related to the research into cognitive development
• stages versus continuous process
• how the findings of research have been interpreted
• assumptions and biases
• areas of uncertainty
• supporting and/or contradictory evidence
• alternative theories/explanations
• the accuracy and clarity of the concepts
• practical applications.

If the candidate addresses only strengths or only limitations, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [3] for criterion D: critical thinking. All remaining criteria should be awarded marks according to the best fit approach. 

Was the most popular question within this option. Candidates frequently chose to evaluate Piaget's and Vygotsky's theory of development. They were aware of relevant research and generally addressed both strengths and limitations within theory and research. Unfortunately, some candidates ignored the command term "evaluate" and instead chose to "contrast" these two theories.