Categorizing and Combining Theories of Cognitive Development and Learning

The present paper considers the centrality of meta-theoretical belief systems (MTBSs) for theories of cognitive development and learning. It is argued that MTBSs guide and constrain the construction of theoretical models and developmental mechanisms. Moreover, it is shown how MTBSs can be effectively used to categorize theories and to address the issue of whether theories of cognitive development and learning can be coherently combined to form larger, more comprehensive theories. The paper proceeds by first defining the nature of theories and then defining eight major MTBSs: nativism, empiricism, constructivism, structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, neobehaviorism, and cognitivism. Following this exposition, it is shown how MTBSs underlie model construction. Next, the issue of whether theories can be combined is discussed in terms of the logical compatibility of their underlying MTBSs. Then, two contemporary theories which combine constructs from several different theoretical perspectives are described to illustrate how theories can be combined coherently. Finally, implications are drawn.