Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Special Education Practice Exam

In Piaget's Sensorimotor Stage, what do infants primarily develop through?

1. Logical reasoning

2. Understanding abstract concepts

3. Sensory information perception and motor actions

4. Social interactions and communication

The correct answer is: Sensory information perception and motor actions

In Piaget's Sensorimotor Stage, which occurs from birth to approximately 2 years of age, infants primarily develop their understanding of the world through sensory experiences and motor actions. During this stage, they explore their environment using their senses—seeing, hearing, touching, and tasting—and learn to coordinate their movements to interact with objects around them. This period is crucial for cognitive development as infants progress through various sub-stages. They begin with reflexive responses and gradually learn to perform intentional actions, such as grasping and manipulating objects. This hands-on exploration helps them form mental representations of the world, laying the groundwork for later cognitive skills. Other aspects like logical reasoning and understanding abstract concepts are not predominant during the Sensorimotor Stage; these capabilities emerge later in Piaget's cognitive development framework. Social interactions and communication also become more pronounced in later stages, as these abilities develop alongside cognitive skills. Thus, the emphasis on sensory information perception and motor actions accurately reflects the primary mode of learning and development in this initial stage of life.