THE DEVELOPMENT OF FORMAL THINKING

In the current study we have investigated the development of logical and mathematical reasoning among mature population, following Piaget's theory of cognitive development. The purpose of the present study is examining if continued biological development and/or continued accumulation of life experience, learning and education can develop into formal operation. The findings indicate that, only about 25% of the population moves to the formal operational stage, and this is before the age of 20. Furthermore, learning was affected by domain specificity. Our findings show that about one fifth of illiterate population have the ability of performing formal thinking. This percentage is close to that of literate population thus suggesting that development of formal operation is regulated innately