Which of the following stages of cognitive development is the concrete operational stage?

The concrete operational stage is recognized as the third stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11 years and is characterized by the development of logical thought concerning concrete objects. During this stage, children begin to understand the concept of conservation, meaning they can grasp that quantity doesn't change even when its shape does, and they can perform operations mentally rather than purely intuitively.

In contrast, the earlier stages are marked by different cognitive abilities. The first stage is the sensorimotor, during which infants learn through physical interactions with their environment. The second stage is the preoperational stage, where children engage in symbolic play and start to develop language but still lack the ability to perform operations logically. The fourth stage, known as the formal operational stage, emerges around 12 years of age and involves abstract thinking and reasoning about hypothetical situations.

Understanding these stages provides insight into how children process information and develop reasoning skills, with the concrete operational stage serving as a crucial bridge between simple, intuitive thought and more complex, abstract reasoning.