Module 4: Formal Thought

Authors

Francis P. Collea, California State University, Fullerton
Robert FullerFollow
Robert Karplus, University of California, Berkeley
Lester G. Paldy, SUNY, Stony Brook
John W. Renner, University of Oklahoma

Date of this Version

1975

Comments

Copyright © 1975 American Association of Physics Teachers. Used by permission.

Abstract

In Piaget’s theory, concrete thought is characterized by serial ordering, simple classification, conservation logic and other operations applied to objects that a person is able to observe or manipulate directly. Formal thought includes these operations but goes beyond them to utilize other processes in situations where one does not deal with tangible objects. Formal processes often involve proportional reasoning, separation of variables, elimination of contradictions, and class inclusion or exclusion operations.