Systematizing the Piagetian Clinical Interview for Classroom Use

Abstract

Piaget's logical problems and clinical method are proposed to be important components of coursework in developmental and educational psychology. The authors describe their experiences with giving undergraduate educational psychology students hands-on opportunities for administering Piagetian clinical interviews. Their experiences have indicated that undergraduate students cannot easily be trained to conduct a thorough or systematic interview. To facilitate the training process, the authors have developed flowcharts for Piagetian tasks, including instructions, checklists for student responses, and alternative procedures to be followed dependent on a child's responses. Flowcharts have provided a means by which substantive interviews can be conducted by undergraduate students.