Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist who was one of they key figures in the theory of cognitive development. Piaget’s research defined cognitive development as being composed of four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concerete operational and formal operational. These four stages correspond to different ages during a child’s development although Piaget himself conceded that the age of progression from stage to the next is not set and the progression itself may not necessarily be smooth. Piaget’s understanding developed by observation of children in a learning environment, first as a teacher in Switzerland and later with his own three children. Paiget’s theory has been challenged on the grounds that, as previously stated, the stage transitions are not necessarily smooth or completely predictable and that the development does not occur simultaneously for all of the child’s cognitive faculties. Despite this Piaget’s work has become very influential in many areas including education. The Jean Piaget Society is one example of the effect his life's work has had. Piaget was certainly concerned with the outcomes of education and what qualities in the child are trying to be nurtured. Piaget is quoted as saying that education must produce innovators and not conformists. It is worth noting that Piaget preferred not to use the term psychology for his work but genetic epistomology instead.
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