FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What ability is demonstrated when a child can understand that changing the form of a substance does not change its amount during Piaget's stages?

1. Class inclusion

2. Centration

3. Conservation

4. Seriation

The correct answer is: Conservation

The ability demonstrated when a child understands that changing the form of a substance does not change its amount is known as conservation. This concept is a key milestone in cognitive development, particularly during Piaget’s concrete operational stage, which typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11. Children who have achieved conservation can recognize that, despite changes in shape or appearance, the quantity remains the same. For instance, when liquid is poured from a short, wide glass into a tall, narrow glass, a child who understands conservation will know that the amount of liquid has not changed, even though it looks different. In contrast, centration refers to a child’s tendency to focus on one aspect of a situation while ignoring others. This is typical of younger children, who may struggle to understand conservation until they reach a more advanced stage of cognitive development. Class inclusion involves the ability to understand that a subset of items can be included within a larger category, which is a different cognitive skill altogether. Seriation refers to the ability to arrange objects in order based on a particular characteristic, such as size or color, which also represents a distinct developmental ability unrelated to conservation. Thus, conservation is specifically related to a child's understanding of quantity and volume despite changes in appearance,