Edexcel GCSE Psychology (1PS0) · Topic 1 · Development
Mini-Lesson
Development
This mini-lesson covers the Edexcel Development topic: Piaget's stages of cognitive development and conservation, the McGarrigle and Donaldson 'Naughty Teddy' study, Dweck's mindset theory and Willingham's learning theory.
Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Every fact here is anchored to a named study or theory on the Edexcel GCSE Psychology (1PS0) Development topic. Press Start when you're ready.
Development · Piaget
Piaget: schemas & stages
Piaget said children actively build mental frameworks (schemas) and pass through four stages:
Sensorimotor (0–2) — learn through senses/movement; gain object permanence.
?A three-year-old thinks a tall thin glass holds more water than a short wide glass, even after seeing the same water poured across. Which stage is this?
Development · key study
McGarrigle & Donaldson: 'Naughty Teddy'
The Edexcel key study is McGarrigle and Donaldson (1974). They tested whether children can conserve earlier than Piaget claimed if the change looks accidental:
Children aged about 4–6 watched two equal rows of counters.
In one condition a 'Naughty Teddy' puppet accidentally messed up a row, rather than the experimenter deliberately spreading it out.
Far more children said the rows were still equal when Naughty Teddy caused the change — showing they could conserve earlier than Piaget thought.
Evaluation: it challenges Piaget by suggesting his tasks underestimated young children. But not all children conserved even with Naughty Teddy.
Quick check
Naughty Teddy
?The McGarrigle and Donaldson 'Naughty Teddy' study is used to challenge Piaget because it suggests that:
Sort it
Sort Piaget's stages
Tap a feature, then tap the stage it belongs to. (Some apply to every stage.)
🔁 All stages
👶 Sensorimotor
🧒 Concrete operational
Development · Dweck
Dweck's mindset theory
Dweck argued that beliefs about ability shape learning:
Fixed mindset — ability is set; failure means 'I can't do this', so people give up.
Growth mindset — ability grows with effort; failure is a chance to improve.
Praising effort encourages a growth mindset; praising intelligence can push a fixed one. Self-efficacy (belief you can succeed) also matters.
Quick check
Dweck's mindset
?A pupil who believes 'I can get better at maths if I keep practising' is showing which mindset?
Development · Willingham
Willingham's learning theory
Willingham challenged the idea of fixed learning styles:
There is little scientific evidence that teaching to a preferred style (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic) improves learning.
He stressed the importance of meaning, practice, factual knowledge and self-regulation.
Use Willingham to criticise the learning-styles approach in the exam.
Match it
Match the developmental idea
Tap a description on the left, then its matching term on the right.
Statement
Answer
Quick check
Willingham's view
?Which statement best fits Willingham's learning theory?
Development · evaluating Piaget
Evaluating Piaget's theory
Piaget shaped education but faces criticism:
Strength: major influence on child-centred, discovery learning.
Weakness: McGarrigle and Donaldson showed he underestimated young children.
Weakness: stages may be less fixed than he claimed.
Development · praise & self-efficacy
Praise & self-efficacy
Dweck's work links closely to how we praise learners:
Praising effort ('you worked hard') builds a growth mindset.
Praising ability ('you're so clever') can create a fixed mindset and fear of failure.
Self-efficacy — believing you can succeed — encourages persistence.