Which term describes the process of fitting something new into an existing schema?

• A. Assimilation
• B. Schema
• C. Accommodation
• D. Adaptation

Answer: (A)

This question checks how a child uses what they already think to interpret new information. The process of fitting new information into an existing schema is assimilation. A schema is a mental framework we already have for understanding something—like a category for “dog.” When a child encounters something new and interprets it using that existing framework, they’re assimilating. For instance, if a preschooler has a dog schema and calls a cat a dog because both are furry, four-legged pets, they’re applying the current idea to the new animal without changing their thinking.

If the child were to realize cats aren’t the same as dogs and adjust their thinking to create a separate cat category, that would be accommodation, which changes the schema to fit new information. Adaptation is the broader process of how thinking changes as kids explore and respond to new experiences, encompassing both assimilation and accommodation.