ADAPT Program (Accent on Developing Abstract Processes of Thought)
Physics Teaching and the Development of Reasoning: Workshop Materials
Accessibility Remediation
If you are unable to use this item in its current form due to accessibility barriers, you may request remediation through our remediation request form.
Date of this Version
1975
Document Type
Article
Abstract
In Piaget' s theory, concrete operational thought is characterized by serial ordering , simple classification, and conservation logic applied directly to objects. A concrete thinker doing a Piagetian task must be able to observe objects and/or manipulate them. Formal operational thought involves proportional reasoning , separation of variables, elimination of contradictions, and class inclusion or exclusion operations. A formal thinker is able to work in situations where he does nor deal with tangible objects. The formal thinker can apply the operations used by a concrete thinker, but goes beyond these operations when solving problems.
Comments
Copyright © 1975 American Association of Physics Teachers. Used by permission.