Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development: A Comprehensive Guide

(a) The names and typical age ranges of Piaget's stages of cognitive development are as follows:

1. Sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years old)
2. Preoperational stage (2 to 7 years old)
3. Concrete operational stage (7 to 11 years old)
4. Formal operational stage (11 years old and beyond)

(b) In the sensorimotor stage, infants and toddlers explore the world through their senses and actions. They develop object permanence, the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight.

In the preoperational stage, young children begin to use symbols to represent objects and events. They engage in pretend play and are egocentric, meaning they struggle to see things from others' perspectives.

In the concrete operational stage, children become more logical and can think more systematically. They understand conservation, the understanding that the quantity of something remains the same even if its appearance changes.

In the formal operational stage, adolescents and adults can think abstractly and hypothetically. They can solve complex problems and engage in hypothetical-deductive reasoning.

(c) The developmental phenomena of each stage are as follows:

• Sensorimotor stage: Object permanence, which is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. Also, the development of basic motor skills and the coordination of sensory information.

• Preoperational stage: Symbolic thinking, where children can use symbols to represent objects and events. Egocentrism, where children struggle to see things from others' perspectives. They also engage in pretend play and have a limited ability to understand conservation.

• Concrete operational stage: Conservation, the understanding that the quantity of something remains the same even if its appearance changes. The development of logical thinking and the ability to perform mental operations.

• Formal operational stage: Abstract thinking and hypothetical-deductive reasoning. The ability to think about possibilities and solve complex problems. The development of higher-order cognitive skills.