Which of the following theorists proposed that children’s thinking is qualitatively different from that of adults ?

The correct answer is Jean Piaget.

Explanation:

Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist famous for his theory of cognitive development. He proposed that children progress through four distinct stages of intellectual development:

1. Sensorimotor Stage (Birth to 2 years)
2. Preoperational Stage (2 to 7 years)
3. Concrete Operational Stage (7 to 11 years)
4. Formal Operational Stage (12 years and up)

According to Piaget, children do not simply know less than adults; rather, their way of thinking and understanding the world is qualitatively different at different stages of cognitive growth. As they interact with their environment through processes of assimilation and accommodation, their mental structures (schemas) undergo fundamental qualitative transformations.

Why other options are incorrect:

• Lev Vygotsky: Emphasized the role of social interaction and culture in cognitive development (Sociocultural Theory) and introduced concepts like the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).

• Howard Gardner: Proposed the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, suggesting that individuals possess distinct types of intelligence (e.g., linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial).

• Lawrence Kohlberg: Developed the stages of moral development, focusing on how moral reasoning evolves through distinct stages.