Discuss the role of peers and/or play in cognitive development and/or social 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 "discuss" requires candidates to offer a considered review of the role of peers and/or play in cognitive and/or social development.

Relevant topics may include, but are not limited to:

• the influence of different categories of play on cognitive and/or social development
• the therapeutic value of play
• Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories related to play and cognitive development
• the link between cognitive development and peer relationships
• the link between peer relationships and social comparison
• cultural differences in peer relationships.

Studies may include, but are not limited to:

• Hughes’ (1999) study on learning social skills through role play
• Russ's (2004) study of a child's capacity for cognitive flexibility and creativity developed by role play
• Todd et al.'s (2016); Fagot's (1985) studies on gender-specific toys
• Bradbard et al.'s (1986) study on the influence of sex stereotypes on children's exploration and memory
• Albert et al.'s (2013) study on peer influences in adolescent decision-making
• Newcomb and Bentler’s (1988) study showing how positive relationships are important in reducing adolescent's drug use
• Kupersmidt and Coie's (1990) studies on peer rejection as predictor of externalizing problems in adolescence.

Discussion may include, but is not limited to:

• methodological and ethical considerations related to the research into the role of peers and play in cognitive and/or social development
• how the findings of research have been interpreted and applied (e.g. designing physical education courses for different ages of children)
• implications of the findings
• assumptions and biases
• areas of uncertainty
• supporting and/or contradictory evidence
• alternative explanations addressing cognitive and/or social development.

Candidates may discuss one aspect of the role of peers and/or play in cognitive and/or social development in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may discuss a larger number of aspects of the role of peers and/or play in cognitive and/or social development in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.

This question was popular, but not always answered well. Some candidates used general knowledge to discuss the benefits of peers and play on children's overall development. High quality responses tended to focus on different types of play and their impact on cognitive or social development or chose Piaget's and Vygotsky's theory and research on the impact of play on cognitive development.