cognitive development

Categories: Site glossary

Cognitive development refers to the changes in the general cognitive structures or skills as a person matures and develops. Cognitive development may be understood to be somewhat a natural process of maturation, although possibly requiring certain types of experiences to proceed. Theorists differ in the extent to which they see human cognitive development to have a strong cultural component such that development may take different paths in different societies.

Synonyms:
intellectual development

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.