Organized, logical thought is characteristic of which of Piaget's stages of development?

In Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the Concrete Operational stage is characterized by organized and logical thought processes. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 7 to 11 years. During this period, children begin to think more logically about concrete events and can perform operations that require them to manipulate and examine tangible objects. They develop skills such as conservation, which is the understanding that quantity does not change even when its shape does, and can classify objects and understand the relationships between them.

Children in the Concrete Operational stage are able to think systematically about the physical world, allowing them to solve problems in a clear, organized manner. This includes understanding principles of cause and effect, which leads to more effective problem-solving skills compared to earlier stages. The cognitive abilities in this stage lay a critical foundation for the subsequent development of abstract thinking that occurs in the Formal Operational stage. Thus, the hallmark of logical thought that can be observed in the Concrete Operational stage distinctly sets it apart from the earlier stages of development.