A concrete operator thinks without much advanced planning. They use trial and error approach. They may try a variety of things but fail to test out different hypotheses systematically. They can draw conclusion based on their observations only. They cannot think beyond that. For ex. What happens if a pendulum with a long string. The children in the formal operational stage think beyond the above.
Hypothetical deductive reasoning
The formal operator able to think all the possible hypotheses and determine how each hypothesis can be tested. This is called hypothetical deductive reasoning or reasoning from general ideas to their specific implications.
To understand the possibilities they must separate and control variables. They must test one factor at a time while holding all others constant. According to Piaget several abilities essential for sophisticated scientific and mathematical reasoning emerge in formal operational period.
Ex. To understand what makes pendulum go faster or slower, the child must understand length of a string by holding other factors as constant, such as weight, height from which it is dropped and so on.
Propositional thought: After hypothetical-deductive reasoning, the second important characteristic of the formal operational stage is propositional thought. Adolescents can evaluate the logic of propositions (verbal statements) without referring to the real world circumstances.
Formal operational Egocentrism: it is a form of egocentrism present during adolescence involving an inability to distinguish the abstract perspectives of self and others.
Participants