Piaget: assimilation vs. accommodation
A toddler who calls every four-legged animal “doggy” learns that cows are different and begins calling them “cow.” Changing her schema this way is:
Answer A: explanation for every choice
A
Correct. Accommodation is modifying an existing schema, or creating a new one, to fit new information.
B
Assimilation is fitting new information into an existing schema, such as calling a cow “doggy.”
C
Habituation is a decreased response to a repeated stimulus.
D
Conservation is understanding that quantity stays the same despite changes in appearance.
TakeawayAssimilation: new information fits the old schema. Accommodation: the schema changes.
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Reviewed 2026-11-05 by a medical student. Spot an error? Report it with question ID ps34.